Shirley Marie Crennen

Shirley Marie Crennen, 90, of Denver, Colorado died on New Year's Day, 2016. She was preceded in death by her husband James and daughter Theresa. She is survived by five children: Christopher (Doris), Michael (Sharon), Cynthia (Keith) Smith, Thomas (Deb) and Joseph (Jodie), 13 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Shirley, a native of Colorado, was born in 1925 and raised in south Denver by her parents, Hilda and Oscar Levoe. Her parents were born in southern Sweden near Malmö. She had an older brother Clarence. Her father was a successful, self-employed painter and wallpaper hanger. Shirley attended McKinley elementary school, Grant junior high school, South High School and the University of Colorado at Boulder. Shirley was an excellent student throughout her academic career. At CU she was a member of the Tri Delta sorority. Shirley was an elementary school teacher for the Denver Public Schools after graduating from college. Shirley and her husband James met on a streetcar in Denver shortly after the war, though they attended South High School in the same graduating class they did not know each other at that time. They were married in 1948. A large family followed with Chris in 1950, Mike in 1952, Cindy in 1954, Tom in 1956, Joe in 1962 and Theresa in 1964. Shirley was a strong believer in the value of education. Our Lady of Lourdes, Regis, Saint Mary's, Notre Dame, University of Montana, Marquette, Gonzaga and Creighton were among the schools attended by Shirley and Jim's children. Theresa was born with Down's syndrome and required special care and much extra care from Shirley until Theresa's death in 2009. Shirley's husband Jim was an insurance agent who started Crennen & Co Insurors in 1956. The agency is still in business today. Three of Shirley and Jim's children, Mike, Tom and Joe, are currently employed in the insurance industry. Shirley converted to Catholicism after marriage and was a faithful member of Our Lady of Lourdes. She was a member of several choirs, a Eucharistic minister and was part of a rosary group with several of her close friends that lasted all of her life. Education was in Shirley's blood, she worked as a substitute teacher after marriage. She also taught French in the evenings on a volunteer basis and served as a Cub Scout troop leader. Her creative and artistic abilities would shine through later in life when she took up pottery. She attended classes and produced a great variety of useful bowls, dishes, and other wonderful pieces. A potter's wheel and kiln where added to her home, evidence of her love of that artistic outlet. Family was the center of Shirley's life. Growing up the family dinners were a daily event and a focus of family life. The dinner table was always lively with conversation about current events and controversial subjects all rounded out with a good sense of humor. As her children left home and had families of their own, Shirley arranged monthly birthday parties and other holiday parties at her house to keep the family connected. She was always happiest when surrounded by family. Shirley and Jim loved to travel. When the family was young they would pile the kids in the station wagon along with snacks such as shoestring potato chips and fig newtons to make the long and hot summer journey to California to stay with Shirley's brother Clarence's family. Clarence attended the School of Mines in Golden and worked as a rocket engineer for JPL in Los Angeles. The kids got to enjoy their cousins' swimming pool and lots of southern California's attractions while Jim and Shirley could catch up with Clarence, his wife Shirley, and Jim's sister Pauline. Shirley and Jim belonged to Ports of Call and traveled the world together. Believing that travel is a powerful tool of learning and to help the grandkids to know one another and to grow up together, they sponsored dozens of trips for their extended family of children and grandchildren to places like Mexico and locations throughout the United States and Canada. Shirley also loved to spend time at the family cabin near Empire where a special sitting rock near the river is named for her. She would spend time simply observing nature or reading a good book on that rock. Shirley was a wonderful wife and mother who loved her family and devoted her life to them. Much of her time was dedicated to making sure that Theresa had the best care and schooling like Laradon Hall plus the special opportunities that life could provide to make her life full. She will be sorely missed by her family and many friends. Rest assured she will look upon us all with her warm and loving smile. Rosary, Monday, 7pm. Funeral Mass Tuesday, 10:30am, both to be held at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, 2298 S. Logan St. Burial Fort Logan National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations suggested to Easter Seals of Colorado Rocky Mountain Village Camp. Please share memories and condolences by visiting the guestbook.