Shelia Jean Burns

Shelia Jean (Bates) Burns, 75, passed away, Thursday, September 23, 2021, surrounded by her family. She was at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs after a valiant fight against COVID.

Shelia was born on November 21, 1945 in Las Vegas, New Mexico, to Slim and Peggy Bates.

Shelia lived most of her life in Rocky Ford, Colorado. Shelia also lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she was a class one seamstress for the Levi Strauss, CO. When she moved back to Rocky Ford she was the Owner/Operator of Peggy’s Café for 31 years with her Mother and Father. Shelia then worked for the Colorado Boys Ranch, the Department of Corrections and then went back to School and got her Certified Nursing Assistant License and worked at Pioneer Nursing Care Facility. When Peggy (Grammy) got sick, Shelia retired and took care of her until she departed. Shelia then became a Host Home Provider for Inspiration Field.

Shelia was the mother of two sons, Jeff and Chad, grandmother to Blayne and Ashlie Burns; great-grandmother to Kova Trujillo. They were her life and she enjoyed spending time with them, making memories, and taking care of her family and friends. Shelia enjoyed traveling and just being out in the community.

Shelia is survived by her son, Chad (Julia Hoeppner) Burns; daughter-in-law, Carol Coates; grandchildren, Blayne and Ashlie Burns; and great-granddaughter Kova Trujillo all of Rocky Ford; brother, Gary Bates of Albuquerque, NM; nephew, Chris (Jenny) Bates of Arvada, CO; niece, Peggy (Bill) Current of Colorado Springs, CO; and nephews, Josh and David Bates of Albuquerque, NM. Along with other great nieces and nephews.

Shelia was preceded in death by her father, Norris “Slim” Bates, her mother, Oneda “Peggy” Wissler Bates, and her son, Jeff Burns.

Memorial service will be Thursday, November 18, 2021, 11:00 a.m. at the Rocky Ford Church of the Nazarene.

Ford-Ustick Funeral Home is handling arrangements.