September 29th, 1940 - April 29th, 2024
Stella was born in Boulder 9/29/40 to William and LaVinia Thomas. She was the youngest of 2 children. She graduated from Boulder High School in 1958. She enjoyed growing up on her parents' ranch in SW Boulder, riding into the Pow Wow Arena to show her horse and was a self-proclaimed “Daddy’s girl.” She was also sister to two siblings from her mother’s previous marriage.
She married Hank Hogan in 1960 in Boulder. They met in childhood and went to HS together and were married for 18 years. They had three daughters, Kerrie, Sherrie, and Peggie.
Stella worked at CU and eventually owned her own cleaning business for many years. She retired from Walmart Distribution Center. Stella married Dean Sprague in the mid-90s. They enjoyed many years together in the Berthoud area but later separated.
Stella loved animals and her family and friends. She enjoyed taking her kids to horse shows, the swimming pool, helping at their schools, and gardening and planting flowers. She loved Holidays and made them extra special.
She made the BEST German Chocolate cakes! She loved Colacci’s spaghetti, home-grown tomatoes, and wine. Suzanne made her homemade Sticky Buns and Snickerdoodle cookies every day.
She was the biggest Rockies fan and enjoyed cheering on the Broncos.
She LOVED being a Grammie to her 6 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren and being teased by her son-in-law Dale, you can bet she always had the last word! Her caregivers were her friends (Suzanne, Deb, Danielle, and Joseline). These lovely friends allowed her to stay in her home with her beloved cat, Callie, where she was happiest watching the birds out her window and being her sweet self to all who knew her.
She went through unimaginable trials including car accidents and multiple fractures due to osteoporosis throughout her life. She overcame them all by always smiling and saying, “I’m OK. I’M COWGIRL TOUGH.” Indeed, she was.
Stella is preceded in death by her parents, William and Lavinia Thomas, Sisters Donna (Jesse) Parrish, and Ruth (Don) and brother Al, and nieces Laurie Parrish and Judy Lambert.
She is survived by her daughters Kerrie Hogan, Sherrie Sellmer, and Peggie Hogan, “adopted” son, Dale Sellmer, her grandchildren Dustin (Mary) Sellmer, Travis (Jessie) Sellmer, Levi Sellmer, Billy Housley, Hope Housley, and her “Light”, Shannan Sellmer. She is also survived by 5 great-grandchildren, her nieces and nephews, and special friends Vickie, Suzanne and Callie.
A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00 pm on Friday, May 10th, 2024, at Christian Promise Fellowship, 12650 North Foothills Highway, Lyons, Colorado.
