Shirley Joan Hammontree

Shirley Joan Hammontree, of Thornton, Colorado passed away peacefully on April 12, 2024, at the age of 84. She was born on March 7, 1940, in Lusk, Wyoming to Edward and Elsie Giedd Hesco.

Shirley resided with her parents and brother, John, on a cattle ranch in Hat Creek, outside of Lusk. She was an active member of 4-H from a young age and took pride in showcasing her talents in many areas, including cooking, sewing, and cattle raising.

She graduated from Niobrara County High School in 1957, married Leon Stiles, and made a home in Sheridan, Wyoming. In addition to raising four children, she was very active in her church. From teaching children of all ages, to coordinating music performances, to leading fundraisers, to taking a car load of kids up the mountain for a day of snowmobiling, she seemed to have unlimited energy, enthusiasm, and sense of adventure.

While living in Sheridan, she worked part time until the children were in school. She then took a full-time job working for the Sheridan County School District administration office in the accounting department.

Subsequent to her divorce from Leon, she married Richard (Rich) Hammontree on October 4, 1977. She and Rich lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico for a time, then settled in Modesto, California. There she worked for Kraft Foods and furthered her education by obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in 1994.

After retiring from Kraft, she and Rich moved to Thornton, Colorado to be close to children and grandchildren. She thoroughly enjoyed hosting family get-togethers and time on the golf course. A life-long learner, she decided to get her real estate license and explored that career for several years. She then took a position with Auto-Trol Technology as an accountant, finally retiring in 2011 at the young age of 71!

She had a passion for reading, writing, golfing, and traveling. Shirley enjoyed challenging herself with puzzles, and had a fondness for attending plays and dinner theatres. She loved playing the piano, especially her favorite church hymns. She found joy in nature and made it a daily ritual to feed squirrels, birds, ducks, and rabbits that frequented her back yard.
She is survived by her loving husband, Richard Hammontree of Thornton; children, Melanie Bucher of Acworth, Georgia, Laurie Johnson of Soldotna, Alaska, Kevin (Corey) Stiles of Longmont, Colorado, Michael (Anjee) Stiles of Thornton, Colorado; step-children, Alan (Melissa) Hammontree of Waller, Texas, Susan (Lamar) Selig of Sheridan, Wyoming, Nathan (Allison) Hammontree of Whitehouse, Texas; brother, John (Marilyn) Hesco of Greybull, Wyoming.

She is also survived by grandchildren Shane, Ashley, Jason, Courtney, Brett, Grant, Braden, and Conner, and great-grandchildren Jake, Alana, Michael, and Sam, as well step-grandchildren Amy, Holly, Heather, Marty, Reed, and Hayden, and step-great- grandchildren Adam, Carter, and Hunter.

Shirley was preceded in death by her parents, Ed and Elsie Hesco, sons-in-law Sam Bucher and Robert Johnson, granddaughter Aleisha Stiles, and stepson Scott Hammontree.

Shirley had a strong faith and loved the Lord. Those of us who love her and share her faith look forward to the day when we will be together again.

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