TORRINGTON – Memorial services for Shelly Kaye Kirchhefer 62, will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, February 10, 2024, at the Goshen County Rendezvous Center with Reverend Matt Gordon officiating.
Burial will follow in the Valley View Cemetery. A reception will follow burial.
Shelly passed away January 17, 2024, at Davis Hospice in Cheyenne and cremation has taken place. Arrangements are under the direction of the Colyer Funeral Home and condolences may be sent to www.colyerfuneralhome.com.
Shelly Kaye Kirchhefer, 62 passed away peacefully on January 17, 2024, at Davis Hospice Center in Cheyenne. She was born on August 17, 1961 in Denver, daughter of Fred and Shannon Fenimore.
In Shelly’s early years, she lived in Denver and Cheyenne. Her family then relocated to Torrington, where she grew up with her younger brother Brian. Shelly was an active child, always surrounded by friends, and enjoyed activities such as bowling, sledding, ice skating, swimming, and Brownies-Bluebirds.
During high school, Shelly participated in all school sports and worked at the local tree farm and swimming pool.
Shelly graduated from Torrington High School in 1979. After graduation Shelly ventured back to Colorado for a time and then to Nebraska.
She worked as a swimming pool lifeguard and had experience with waitressing, secretarial administration, and emergency dispatching. Shelly was blessed with two daughters, Shauna, and Andrea, with her first husband, Delwin Watson, while living in Lingle.
Spending time with family and helping others was Shelly’s passion. She spent much of her time supporting her children in their activities and worked many part time jobs such as childcare and school cook.
Shelly managed the Lingle swimming pool in the summers and both her daughters got to work alongside her.
Shelly’s passion for helping people lead her to 29 years of service in emergency management and 10 years as a volunteer firefighter. She began her career in 1993, in Lingle and in May of 1999, she transferred to Goshen County Emergency Management where she filled many roles, including working with U.S. Homeland Security, local emergency response, statewide training and storm chasing. She was a mentor to many and known across the state for her dedication and selfless service.
Shelly married her soul mate, Gary Kirchhefer on May 5, 2006. Together they enjoyed traveling, hunting, fishing, camping, shooting, Jeeping, and shopping. Both were employed with the Sheriff’s department and volunteered together at the Yoder Fire Department. This gave them ample opportunities to share another passion, storm chasing. Tracking dangerous weather was serious work but also exciting and a rewarding challenge. If she wasn’t managing crisis situations, training for worst case scenarios, or out in severe weather she would enjoy relaxing with her pets, painting and attending her grandkids activities. She loved being her grandkids “Mema.”
Early retirement from the job she loved came when she was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer in December 2020.
Through long ongoing treatments she battled through this storm to be with her loved ones an extra three years.
Shelly is survived by her husband, Gary Kirchhefer; mother, Shannon Fenimore; brother Brian (Amy) Fenimore; daughter, Shauna (Daryl) Wunder; daughter Andrea (Justin) Smith; stepdaughter Joylene (Brent) Anderson; stepson Gary (Windy) Kirchhefer II and her grandchildren Skyla, Shaylyn, Daryn, McKenzie, McKayla, Caleb, Abigail, Faith, Skyler, Cole, and Joshua. She also had three great grandchildren. Niece; Jordyn and nephew; Zachary.
Shelly was preceded in death by her father Fred Fenimore, grandparents, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Memorial donations may be made to Gracie’s Promise.
