Shirley M. DeSautels passed away in Colorado Springs on December 22, 2017, at the age of 96. She was born in Ft. Collins, Colorado, on June 2, 1921, the fifth of nine children born to Archie E. and Elva (Smith) McRae. After graduating from Ft. Collins High School, she married William H. Rodenbeck of Colby, Kansas in 1942. From this union were born two sons, William and Theodore. Due to a car accident, Shirley was widowed at the age of 29 and she worked hard to provide and care for her two sons during this time. In 1954, she married Alfred DeSautels in Colorado Springs, and worked side-by-side with him in the family business, Alfred’s Mobile Homes. From this union, a daughter Elizabeth was born in 1955.
Over the years, Shirley became an entrepreneur, adept in the business world, and owned Pikes Peak Gift Shop in Manitou, later moving the store to 1404 S. Tejon, and added Hallmark cards, and a Post Office Annex in the mid-1960s. She owned various properties in the area, and Fort Collins. She was part-owner of Rockyhill Skate Center in Ft. Collins from 1977 to 1982. All the while, she continued to maintain a beautiful welcoming home for her growing family and good friends. She loved gardening, especially roses; and doted on the many pets she had over the years. She was a talented, creative cook and hobby crafter–always on the move, keeping busy. Shirley loved collecting elephants from all around the world, and her home housed an extensive collection of elephants and elephant mementos.
Shirley was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who will be greatly missed by her family, extended family, and many friends and neighbors.
Shirley is survived by a son William (Rebecca) Rodenbeck of Canon City, CO; daughter Elizabeth Hanson of Colorado Springs; daughter-in-law Sandi Rodenbeck of Mesa, AZ; grandchildren Teri (Shawn) Smith of Enumclaw, WA; April (Chris) Reagan of Bothell, WA; Christopher Rodenbeck and Nathan (Andie) Rodenbeck of Ft. Collins, CO; Sunday (Chad) Wilson of Colorado Springs, CO; and great-grandchildren Kyle (Aly) Young, Adam Young, David and William Hatfield, Owen and Molly Reagan, and Michael Rodenbeck. Also surviving are her brother, Donald McRae of Mesa, Arizona, and sister, Doris Case of Ft. Collins, CO. She was preceded in death by her son, Theodore, in 2014; brother, Gilbert McRae, and sisters Evelyn Lindsley, Eleanor Hammond, Francis Smith, Mildred Brown, and infant Rosalie.
Visitation will be held at 1 p.m., followed by a memorial service at 2 p.m. on Thursday, January 4, at Shrine of Remembrance “America the Beautiful” Chapel, 1730 E. Fountain Boulevard. Entombment will follow at Shrine of Remembrance Mausoleum. A reception will follow at The Olympian Plaza Reception Center at 975 S. Union Blvd.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, 610 Abbot Lane, Colorado Springs, CO 80905.
Condolences may also be left at www.Swan-Law.com