Shela Jennings

Dorothy Shela Jennings, 78, of Fort Collins, Colo., passed away August 21, 2016 peacefully in her own bed. Shela was born in Cripple Creek, Colorado Jan. 2, 1938 to Arthur and Dorothy (Locke) Stanker. Her true calling was as an actor and director, and she gave of herself to the Fort Collins community in those roles for 44 years.

Shela grew up in a loving environment in Cripple Creek, and graduated as class valedictorian in 1956. She attended the University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Denver, graduating in 1960 with a degree in Theatre.

Shela met Calvin Jennings in 1960 and they married later that same year. While Cal pursued his career as an archaeologist, Shela supported him across three states and raised Craig, their only child, ultimately becoming a single parent when the couple parted ways. Shela received an M.A. (cum laude) in Drama in 1974, going on to teach English and drama at four schools from 1963 to 1972. The family moved to Ft. Collins in 1972, and Shela began working at Colorado State University in various administrative positions, finally joining the Program of Theatre Arts as a staff assistant (and ultimately staff instructor) in 1979, where she served as “den mother” to countless grateful students.

Shela spent the next four decades working on innumerable shows and events for Fort Collins Children’s Theatre, Probe Theatre, Foothills Civic Theatre, OpenStage Theatre and Bas Bleu Theatre. She was at the center of the local theater community and was greatly instrumental in bringing it to its current vitality. After retirement, she met her longtime companion, Bill Burris, in 2003, and they enjoyed a loving companionship until her passing.

She will be greatly missed by her loving son, Craig; companion, Bill Burris; sisters, Martha (Jack) Fish and Barbara Anne (Larry) Borland; niece, Jennifer (Kent) Valentine nephew, Tim (Robin) Fish and children Kira, Luke and Ryker Fish; cousins: Susan (Bill) Hoge, Charlie, Matt and Adam Hoge; nephew Connor (Tammy) Borland and niece Caitlin (Dustin) Smail; Dale (Peggy) Robinson; Mike (Gwynne) Stanker; extended family: Jim, Katie, Kyle and Natalie Byrnes; David (Gail) Burris; as well as countless close friends in the community and elsewhere. Shela was predeceased by her parents, Arthur and Dorothy (Locke) Stanker; and Muriel Locke.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, August 27th on Fort Collin’s Lincoln Center Rooftop Patio. Please visit Shela’s online memorial at Allnutt.com to leave condolences. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to OpenStage Theatre, Bas Bleu Theatre and Fort Collins Children’s Theatre.