In Memory Of
Sheila Ruth Gustafson
1941
2017
Sheila Ruth Gustafson
December 26, 1941 — February 28, 2017
Sheila Ruth Terry Gustafson, 75, passed away February 28, 2017, at home with her family in Aurora, Colorado.
She was born December 26, 1941 in Phoenix, Arizona, the daughter of Cecil and Dorothy (Vinson) Terry. She was a graduate of Phoenix South Mountain High School. She attended Brigham Young University and Arizona State University, graduating from ASU. On June 29, 1963 she married Gary Gustafson in the Mesa, Arizona temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Sheila worked as a first-grade teacher while her husband finished college, then devoted herself to raising her family. She loved books and poetry and conversation and people. From childhood, her fondest dream was to be a mother—she wanted to have 20 children! She met her husband Gary in high school and at church—both she and he had joined the Mormon Church with their families as teenagers. When Gary returned from his two-year proselyting mission for the Church in the Gulf States (Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi), he and Sheila were married and embarked on their adult lives together. Sheila loved her large family (large in stature, though not in number—she was 5'9 ¾" in her prime and her husband was 6'4"—their children are 6'2", 5'11", 6'5", 6'5") and served them with constant and unselfish love within the limits imposed on her by her chronic illness.
Her husband of 53 years credits Sheila with teaching him the finer things in life—to read widely, to talk, to worship, to be a good parent. First with Gary her husband and down through her children as they grew, the family loved Sheila and rallied around her to help her manage her household and her illness as best as they could, and especially her husband cared for her tirelessly, never forgetting his love, respect, and admiration for the girl he met at age 16.
Sheila is survived by her husband, Gary Gustafson, Sr.; daughter, April Gustafson; three sons, Gary Gustafson, Jr., Gene (Lisa) Gustafson, and Glenn (Suzanne) Gustafson; eight grandchildren, Lauren Gustafson, Kendall Gustafson, Jack Gustafson, Keilee Gustafson, Caleb Gustafson, Micah Gustafson, Sage Gustafson, and Gunner Gustafson; sister, Carol Jobe. She is preceded in death by her parents, Cecil and Dorothy Terry.
Memorial contributions may be made to King's Kids Africa at https://kingskidsafrica.org/.
To share a memory of Sheila or leave a special condolence message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
She was born December 26, 1941 in Phoenix, Arizona, the daughter of Cecil and Dorothy (Vinson) Terry. She was a graduate of Phoenix South Mountain High School. She attended Brigham Young University and Arizona State University, graduating from ASU. On June 29, 1963 she married Gary Gustafson in the Mesa, Arizona temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Sheila worked as a first-grade teacher while her husband finished college, then devoted herself to raising her family. She loved books and poetry and conversation and people. From childhood, her fondest dream was to be a mother—she wanted to have 20 children! She met her husband Gary in high school and at church—both she and he had joined the Mormon Church with their families as teenagers. When Gary returned from his two-year proselyting mission for the Church in the Gulf States (Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi), he and Sheila were married and embarked on their adult lives together. Sheila loved her large family (large in stature, though not in number—she was 5'9 ¾" in her prime and her husband was 6'4"—their children are 6'2", 5'11", 6'5", 6'5") and served them with constant and unselfish love within the limits imposed on her by her chronic illness.
Her husband of 53 years credits Sheila with teaching him the finer things in life—to read widely, to talk, to worship, to be a good parent. First with Gary her husband and down through her children as they grew, the family loved Sheila and rallied around her to help her manage her household and her illness as best as they could, and especially her husband cared for her tirelessly, never forgetting his love, respect, and admiration for the girl he met at age 16.
Sheila is survived by her husband, Gary Gustafson, Sr.; daughter, April Gustafson; three sons, Gary Gustafson, Jr., Gene (Lisa) Gustafson, and Glenn (Suzanne) Gustafson; eight grandchildren, Lauren Gustafson, Kendall Gustafson, Jack Gustafson, Keilee Gustafson, Caleb Gustafson, Micah Gustafson, Sage Gustafson, and Gunner Gustafson; sister, Carol Jobe. She is preceded in death by her parents, Cecil and Dorothy Terry.
Memorial contributions may be made to King's Kids Africa at https://kingskidsafrica.org/.
To share a memory of Sheila or leave a special condolence message for her family, please visit the guestbook below.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Sheila Ruth Gustafson, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Visitation
Monday, March 13, 2017
10:00 - 11:00 am (Mountain time)
The Church of Jesus Christ
Service
Monday, March 13, 2017
Starts at 11:00 am (Mountain time)
The Church of Jesus Christ
Guestbook
Visits: 12
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors