Shirley Ann Sierra (Garcia) was born on March 1, 1957, in Center, Colo., and lived to be 67 years old. Shirley moved on from this life as we know it on Thursday, Aug. 22, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. at Common Spirit Penrose Hospital in Colorado Springs.
Shirley’s parents were Tom and Loyda Garcia. She was 1 of 10 children in her family, including her brothers: Tom, Gary, Lloyd, and Fred as well as her sisters: Yvonne, Jenny, Renee, Marie, and Brenda. She had several brother-in laws, sister-in-law’s, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. There are too many to count.
Shirley graduated from Center High School in 1975. She married Jim Sierra on Aug. 20, 1977, and had just recently celebrated their 47th wedding anniversary. Shirley had one “biological” son, Josh Sierra, yet was a “mother” to several other family and friends throughout her life. She was a grandmother to her only grandson, Sorin Sierra and a “Nina” to Lloyd John Garcia, Melissa Garcia, Jay Garcia, Alicia Garcia, and Esther Casanova.
Shirley spent her life in the San Luis Valley and worked hard throughout as a seamstress, early childhood education teacher, and most of all a caretaker for her family as well as other families alike. She had a heart of gold and truly cared about the well-being and happiness of others.
Shirley’s language was “love”, and she shared that with everyone she met. She was a coordinator and would always bring family and friends together for special events. Shirley loved her entire family and would do anything for anyone if she could. She was a “giver”, but not the best person at receiving favors and or help. Yeah, she was stubborn to an extent. She was proud of who she was and how she wanted to live.
Most of all Shirley loved her “boys” Jim, Josh, and Sorin. She supported them all in many endeavors throughout life. Whether it was cutting up Jim’s elk or fish, preparing and cleaning for camping trips, going to Josh’s and/or Sorin’s sporting events, decorating for Christmas, canning green chili, finding the “clicker”, or yelling “stop it Jimmy”, Shirley was ALWAYS there for her “boys”.
Shirley will always be cherished and remembered for her caring ways and the LOVE she gave.
There will be a viewing for Shirley at 5 p.m. at St. Francis Jerome Church in Center, Colo., on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2024. There will be a vigil and rosary to follow starting at 6 p.m.
Date of funeral services are TBD but will likely occur in November of 2024.
To leave online condolences, please visit romerofuneralhomes.com. The care of arrangements has been entrusted to Romero Valley Funeral Home of Alamosa.
