Peyton Shay Sanchez

Our hearts are heavy as we announce the passing of our dear son and brother, Peyton Shay Sanchez, on July 11th, 2025. Peyton’s long battle with Neurofibromatosis may have ended, but he became pain free as he entered the gates of Heaven and began his new life with our Savior.

Peyton was born on April 18th, 2006 to Sheila and Charlie Sanchez. From an early age, Peyton displayed a strong faith, determined spirit, and a zest for life; all of which he would need to get through the next 19 years of his life.

Peyton loved his family and friends deeply. He especially loved his younger brother, Landon. Even though his brother grew to be taller than him, Peyton really enjoyed telling people that Landon was his little brother. Landon always found that information to be irrelevant, but Peyton did not! Before losing his ability to walk in 2018, Peyton loved playing whatever Landon wanted: football in the yard, baseball, or simply cars and trucks outside in the dirt. Lately, as they both got older and Peyton became weaker, they just shared time and laughter together, with Landon always knowing how to keep Peyton smiling and laughing. Peyton enjoyed supporting his brother and was truly Landon’s biggest fan.

Peyton had a passion for sports like no other! He loved cheering on his Denver Broncos and Colorado Rockies. Peyton and his family attended countless Rockies games and you could find his dad seated next to him whispering the play-by-play, creating mental pictures so he could share in the excitement with the crowd. “Okay, buddy, we have runners on first and second, two outs, two balls, two strikes, and here comes the pitch…” He was frustrated with the Rockies for the last few years and their losing seasons. Still an avid fan, he simply just dreamed of owning the team one day, and making the changes necessary to become a winning team again! Over the years, Peyton asked many of you “What position would you like with the Rockies Organization?” planning for the day he took over the team. He remembered what each person said, taking mental notes of those jobs. We believe his team was fully staffed! The only thing left was acquiring the nearly $2 billion dollars to actually purchase the team, but he remained optimistic it could be done somehow!

Peyton also had a strong connection to music. From a very early age, Peyton enjoyed many genres of music. You might find him listening to The Jackson 5, The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Journey, or even Louis Armstrong. (And secretly he and his mama would listen to their favorite Christmas music beginning in about September when no one was around to judge! If caught, both Peyton and Sheila would go into full denial mode, “We’re not listening to Christmas music!”) His iPad was quite an eclectic collection. Country music was definitely a favorite, though. In 2015, the Make-a-Wish Foundation granted his wish to attend the Country Music Awards Show in Nashville. He walked the Red Carpet and was able to meet some really great artists. He went to many concerts over the years; everything from Taylor Swift to Tim McGraw to Billy Joel and Willie Nelson and so many more. Music offered him strength when the days were hard and the struggles were big.

Being diagnosed with Neurofibromatosis (NF-1) at 6 months of age, Peyton began his journey as a fighter. For 19 years he battled this disease that robbed him of so much! He began losing his vision at a young age, and later, due to a brainstem tumor, lost the ability to walk. Then he lost the ability to talk. His health challenges were big, and included so many different types of treatment that bought us time together, but never a cure.

Peyton never knew a stranger. And if he didn’t know you, he was going to do everything he could to try and change that. He wanted to know all about you, and somewhere in his beautiful mind, he stored that information away. If he saw you again, he’d ask about you, and would remember what you had told him. He had a way of making us all feel special and important.

Although in the last few years, Peyton was completely dependent upon others, he would never complain. He awoke each morning with a warm smile and ended each day with that same bright beautiful smile. He was grateful, and full of encouragement for others, and prayed for so many people each night; rarely himself.

Peyton dedicated his life to the service of others. He was passionate about those less fortunate than him, especially animals and kiddos struggling like himself. At age 9, he wanted to set up a lemonade stand to raise money for kids at Children’s Hospital Colorado. He wanted to find ways to make hospital stays a bit more comfortable and fun for kids that had to be there regularly. That one lemonade stand raised $5,000. There was no turning back from that. He went on to continue setting up the lemonade stand at various events, and raised over $20,000 for various charities over the years, such as Ronald McDonald House, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Colton’s Heroes, San Luis Valley Cancer Relief, and Valley Humane League as well as helping to fund many scholarships, including an annual scholarship in his own name. From that, Peyton’s Pay It Forward Foundation was born. He was determined to help make his community, and ultimately the world, a better place. He certainly set an example for us all to follow. Those of us who knew him well will continue to carry on with his work, and keep his desires to help others and give back, a reality. In Peyton’s honor, we invite and encourage everyone to live like Peyton, as we work to preserve his legacy. Peyton’s example serves as a reminder that one person’s actions can have a long-lasting ripple effect.

Peyton is survived by his parents, Sheila and Charlie Sanchez and his younger brother Landon; his aunts Jodi Sanchez, Dana Sanchez, and Shelby Russell; uncles, John Rothermich, Steven Rothermich, and Matt Sandoval; one grandmother, Peggy Rothermich, and one grandfather, Neil Henderson, as well his cousins Tyler Weaver, Markis Sandoval, and Tracen, Aubrey, and Addison Rothermich, and Jentrie, Jolie, and Johnny Rothermich. Peyton was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Kenneth Sanchez (Abuelo), John Rothermich Sr., his great grandmother, Della Sanchez, and his grandmother Arla Henderson. Peyton had so many special friends that were like family to him, too many to name, but we must mention Deb Dawkins, who provided a soft-landing spot during all the years of chemo on Fridays, and Ruthie and Larry Brown. Ruthie did so much to help fulfill many of Peyton’s wishes, and was always thinking of ways to keep him upbeat and encouraged through the tough days.

Please join us for a Celebration of Life for Peyton at 10:30 on Saturday, July 26, 2025, at Ortega Middle School, with interment service at Alamosa Cemetery following.