Traci Louise Shimel

Traci Louise Shimel passed peacefully following a long battle with cancer on October 24, 2020. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Robin and Jeremy Visbal, five beloved grandchildren, Hailey, JJ, Sophie, Layla, and Luna, her mother, Margo Shimel, her sisters Lisa (John Davis) Shimel, Julie (Wayne) Church, and Carrie (Mike Weingardt) Shimel, and her much loved nieces and nephews, Cody Buehler, Kenzi (Justin) Ferguson (and their 3 children), Adam and Justin Davis, and Katie Church, and her “second daughter” Anna Centron. She was predeceased by her father, Gene Shimel, and a granddaughter, Lillie Visbal. A celebration of Traci’s life will be held at 1:00 on Sunday, August 1, 2021 at Olinger’s Mortuary, 10201 Grant Street, Thornton, CO (masks required, no flowers please).

Traci was born on April 17, 1961, the third daughter of Gene and Margo Shimel. She grew up in Longmont, Colorado. She attended Niwot High School and graduated from Skyline High School in 1979. She always loved children, and planned to be a pediatrician, initially attending Johns Hopkins University. She decided education was a path to the relationship with children that was suitable for her and transferred to Western Connecticut State University at Danbury and received her B.A. in Elementary Education. She married fellow student Bob Ward after college and became the proud mother of Robin in 1987. She became a single mother shortly after Robin was born, and Traci devoted her life to her daughter, her students, and her friends and family. She worked in early childhood education for many years, then obtained her teaching certificate. She taught at McElwain, Stukey, and Federal Heights Elementary Schools, primarily working with second language learners. She became fluent in Spanish. She was a dedicated and loving teacher who always put the education, care and success of students first.

Traci was an avid birdwatcher, and spent many hours in the outdoors tracking down birds, often with her parents, Gene and Margo, and with Robin. She travelled across the country birdwatching, and took memorable trips to Costa Rica, the Galapagos Islands and to Africa with Margo. Traci loved sports of all kinds, and was especially a fan of the Colorado Rockies.

All of Traci’s nieces and nephews have fond memories of activities with her -- camping, birdwatching, baseball games, taking field trips, and spending time with her doing things she knew they would enjoy. All of their parents benefitted from her thoughtful views on parenting and education.

She was working on her doctoral thesis, having completed all of her doctoral course work, with a focus on Language Acquisition when she was diagnosed with cancer. She left her doctoral program but continued to teach as long as she was able. Following her retirement from teaching, Traci moved to Houston, Texas to spend time with Robin and Jeremy and their children. Traci was so happy to spend time with her beloved grandchildren. She also continued to take care of other children in the area, and became an important part of those family’s lives, including caring for the grandchild of one of her favorite high school teachers, whose children Traci had cared for all through high school and with whom she maintained relationships throughout her life.

Traci returned to Longmont shortly before her death, and was able to see many of her long time friends and students before she passed, which was a great joy to her in her final weeks.