Sara Lee Spangler

Sara Lee Spangler, 83, of Hover Manor passed away September 30, 2016 at Longmont United Hospital due to complications from a fall at her home. Services will be 11:00 Sat. October 22nd at Faith Community Church, 9775 Ute Hwy, Longmont CO. The tenth child of Oscar C. and Josephine Allen, she was born at her family's homestead near Genoa, CO. In 1953 she married Billy G. Spangler who preceded her in death on October 10, 1981. She is survived by; her sister Georgia Link of Flagler CO, her four children; Ray Spangler of Anchorage, Patina (Max) Sidner of Athens GA, Sandy (Bill) Ray and Dena (Ivan) Schlutz of Longmont, her grandchildren; Kody (Candace) Lostroh, Logan Schlutz, Victoria Schlutz, Bill Ray, and Charlie Ray, great-grandchildren; Sheridan and Odessa Lostroh and many cherished nephews and nieces. Her family raised wheat and cattle and her father served a term as a Colorado State Representative. Sara Lee rode a horse to a one-room schoolhouse. Singing was her passion; she performed at churches, schools, and many other venues as a soloist and was sought after for her versatility as a soprano, alto and tenor throughout the 40's and early 50's. In '50-'51 she studied business at Westmar College in Le Mars, Iowa where she also sang and performed. In 1952, she met her husband in Steamboat Springs, CO where they later owned and operated a large sheep ranch. Alternating summer and winter pastures, they trucked sheep between Steamboat and Longmont. They also raised sheep in multiple Front Range locations and near Cheyenne, Fairplay, and Monte Vista, CO. The baby lambs she brought to schools for career days thrilled Longmont school students of the 1960's. In Longmont, she worked as a bookkeeper at the law firm of Flanders, Wood, and Sonnesyn. She enjoyed snow skiing, sewing, ballroom dancing, fine auto's, beautiful fabrics, and Coke with peanuts. She was a life-long student seeking to understand the nature of people, economics, inventions, and nature. She delighted in family gatherings where children, sing-alongs, music and laughter were the focus. She especially enjoyed watching her grandson, Kody, a PBR world champion, ride bulls. She made weekly recordings of each televised event and saved every newspaper and magazine clipping that mentioned her grandchildren. She will be remembered for her sweet nature and her genuine interest of others. At her request, her ashes will be scattered at her favorite site near Steamboat Springs.