Sharon (“Sherree”) Gail Vancil, 84, of Gunnison and Howard, Colorado passed peacefully on July 10, 2025. Sharon was born on November 22, 1940 in Litchfield, Illinois; the first of five siblings. A month shy of her 18th birthday, Sherree met and married Charles (“Chuck”) Roy Vancil, also of Litchfield, IL on October 24, 1958. They remained devoted to each other even beyond Chuck’s passing in 2019.
Shortly after marriage, Chuck and Sherree took a vacation to Colorado where they immediately fell in love with Colorado’s mountains and climate. They quickly returned to Litchfield to gather their belongings and permanently move west. After Chuck retired at 55, they made the permanent move to their beloved community of Howard, CO.
Chuck and Sherree loved the outdoors, and they spent countless days camping, exploring, hunting and fishing in the Colorado mountains. Sherree loved to paint pottery, china and porcelain, and she had a passion for crocheting. She and Chuck also ran a leather-crafting business for many years during their retirement, traveling around Colorado to attend art shows and share their work. Sherree loved to cook, and she won countless trophies for her green chili. She also enjoyed her years as Queen Mother in her local Red Hat Society, and she excelled at planning events and parties. Sherree was also a member of the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS), and she enjoyed competing in Cowboy Shooting events with Chuck. At one point, she held the title of Colorado State Champion in her age category. Most important, Sherree loved anything purple, hummingbirds, sipping cold Coca-Cola, and Chuck.
Survivors include her daughter, Katherine L. Haase (Steve) of Gunnison, Colorado; son, Gary L. Vancil (Lois) of Westminster, Colorado; four grandsons (Brendon, Charles, Gary, Jr., and Joshua); four granddaughters (Jennifer, Kerriann, Krystal, and Nicole); and three sisters (Betty Davis, Sandy Mitchell and Susie Rogers). Preceding her in death were Chuck, her mother Eva Louise (“Mickey”) Gutt, and her brother Larry Gutt.
Sherree’s family thanks the excellent staff at the Gunnison Valley Health Assisted Living Facility, the Gunnison Valley Health Senior Care Center, Gunnison Valley Health Hospital, and Gunnison Valley Hospice for their compassion and superior care during Sherree’s final months and moments. Services will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, July 26, 2025 at Christ Chapel of the Sangres (8754 US Hwy 50, Howard, CO 81233), followed by a short reception, with interment next to Chuck at the Howard Cemetery in Howard, CO immediately following the reception.
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