Colin Travis

1976 - 2024

Colin Travis
March 25, 1976 - October 13, 2024
Colin arrived in this world the same way he departed - on his own timeline. He was born prematurely at Flagstaff Hospital and spent over a month in a neonatal intensive care unit. When unexpectedly released to go home, he rode there in a cardboard box! Colin has prematurely gone home again, but instead of a cardboard box, his ashes (along with the ashes of his faithful dog Kenya) will be released in the Colorado mountains where he and Kenya shared many joyous experiences.
Colin was an accomplished craftsman by trade, but this wasn't all that defined him. He loved his nieces and nephews deeply. He sought out conversation and connection with family near and far. He was always researching the world around him, including many national and overseas trips. He appreciated nature's beauty with a passion and frequently immersed himself outdoors hiking, biking, climbing and camping. At one point, he was even a wasp wrangler. He had this remarkable ability to find clothes with an unusual amount of pockets. On the road, he was the first person to stop and help someone in need, typically having exactly the right tool or piece of equipment necessary. He had a prodigious number of well used tools. And Colin loved every dog he ever met.
Colin was born in Flagstaff, AZ, to Marilyn and Scott Travis, and spent his younger years there. He moved to Cortez, CO at age nine when his mom and stepdad got married. Spending summers with his dad and stepmom at Canyon De Chelly National Monument, he learned to scramble up rock faces, hike for miles on end, and always wear a hat, long sleeves, and pants when in the sun. After high school, Colin attended Western State University, but ultimately determined that hands-on work (and a paycheck!) was his life calling. A summer job working on a road crew launched his career in construction which ultimately led him to Tucson, where he lived for 21 years. During his time in Tucson, Colin spent many years working with a builder that used unique and sustainable materials, leaving behind a legacy of creative and one-of-a-kind homes. During those years Kenya went to work with Colin as part of the crew - they were inseparable, and he never quite recovered from the loss of his best friend.
After leaving Tucson and moving to Southwest Colorado, Colin worked on a celebrity's house in Telluride, then shifted to handyman work in an effort to have more flexibility and variety. He equally loved the beauty of the Tucson desert and the grandeur of the San Juan and Rocky Mountains. Over the last couple of years Colin spent his time between Southwest Colorado and the Front Range working on a variety of projects and playing with all his client's dogs. In fact, he may or may not have selected jobs based on there being a resident dog...
Colin passed away peacefully due to natural causes. He is survived by his mother, Marilyn Griebel (Gerry Griebel); father, Scott Travis (Tara Sidles Travis); sister, Chandra Harrison (Wayne Harrison); stepbrothers, Pete Griebel (Ali Griebel), Stefan Griebel (Sheryl Griebel); and nieces and nephews, Ryan Harrison, Makenna Harrison, Eli Harrison, Sebastian Griebel, Seneca Griebel, and Simone Griebel. He also has an entire fleet of aunts, uncles and cousins who miss him dearly. He was preceded in death by his grandparents including Craig and Mary Sidles of Flagstaff.
A memorial service is planned for Spring 2025.