Sharon Alice Tate

Sharon Alice Tate passed away in Hospice at Mercy Hospital on August 5th, 2023.  Sharon was 69 years of age.  Sharon was born in the Evanston Hospital in Evanston Illinois on October 16th, 1953. Her parents were George Spencer Tate and Jeannine Agnes Reichelt. Shortly after her birth, George and Jeannine moved with Sharon to Denver Colorado, where Sharon grew up. Sharon was the oldest of four siblings. Her siblings, in birth order, are Colleen Currie, Susan Wendt, and John Tate. Sharon is survived by all three siblings.

Sharon attended Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO for a year and then transferred to Western Colorado University in Gunnison, CO. There she met, and later married, Tom Kedrowski. Sharon and Tom dropped out of school to pursue a "hippie" lifestyle. They lived in a tipi, near Crested Butte, CO, that Sharon made by hand. Sharon was a seamstress and Tom was a mule skinner. Their son, Philip Kedrowski, was born. Living in a tipi was difficult so they spent a winter in Texas, before moving to Saguache, CO. They spent a few years living in Saguache while Philip was a toddler, finally they moved to Bayfield, CO. 

Shortly after moving to Bayfield, Sharon and Tom divorced. Sharon had primary custody of Philip, she raised him as a single mother. It wasn't easy, but Sharon worked, largely by herself, to restore an old adobe house on the property that she purchased outside of Bayfield, near the HD mountains. Sharon had many jobs to make ends meet, but her two primary sources of income were sewing and backcountry pack trips. She had a sewing business that specialized in canvas equipment. Sharon made all kinds of canvas products including boat covers, wall tents, and tipi's (her favorite). During the summers, Philip would go to his fathers house and Sharon would go to the mountains. Sharon worked for 15 years as a camp cook and horse guide for Dobbin Shupe, leading pack trips into the Weminuche and Superstition wildernesses. This was her happy place, she absolutely loved this work.

After raising Philip, Sharon went back to college and finished her Bachelors Degree in Art at Fort Lewis College, Durango, CO. For a year, she was in college at the same time as her son Philip. It was embarrassing for Philip to run into his mom in the halls, but he was very proud of her for having the courage to finish her degree. Sharon used this degree to get a teaching certificate and she served as a substitute teacher throughout the remainder of her life.

Sharon was raised with Christian values, however for many years she did not regularly attend church. Later in life she re-engaged her faith and began attending the Ignacio Community Church (ICC). The members of the ICC welcomed and embraced Sharon with open arms. When in need, the ICC membership helped Sharon in many ways, including snow plowing, horse feeding, and prayer.

There will be a memorial service for Sharon on Saturday, August 19th, 2023 at 11am. The service will be held at the Ignacio Community Church, 405 Browning Ave, Ignacio, CO., with a luncheon following the service at 12pm.