ALAMOSA — An estimated crowd of 400 people attended a celebration of life service for Peyton Shay Sanchez on Saturday, July 26, held in the gymnasium at Ortega Middle School. Sanchez, 19, passed away from complications related to Neurofibromatosis, a degenerative debilitating disease he was diagnosed with as a toddler that ultimately left him unable to walk, unable to eat, unable to speak and, at the end of his life, almost unable to sign. 

But the focus of Saturday’s celebration was not on what Peyton Sanchez was unable to do in his life that was cut short much too soon. The focus was on what this young man did and who he was to his family, his friends and the community, at large. 

In speaking to the crowd, Jodi Sanchez, Peyton’s aunt, touched on those things for which Peyton was so well known. His lemonade stands that raised over $20,000 for various charitable causes. His love of Christmas music, which he and his mother, Sheila, would start listening to months before the Christmas season began. His genuine compassion and concern for others, despite the enormous challenges he faced in his own life, that led to the creation of a foundation that will continue on. His unfailing support for the Colorado Rockies. 

And the recognition of just that one aspect of who he was could be seen in what many who attended the celebration were wearing.  

In homage to Peyton’s favorite baseball team, people wearing Rockies jerseys could be seen scattered throughout the crowd. Those who didn’t have jerseys were wearing the Rockies’ signature purple – purple shirts, purple shorts, purple socks. Those who didn’t have jerseys or any purple apparel wore jerseys for their favorite sports team.  

That one simple gesture was a strong testament to just how much of an impact this humble, truly remarkable young man had on others. 

The celebration ended with what was the most poignant part of the ceremony: a slideshow created by Sheila Sanchez comprised of photos taken from the time Peyton was a beautiful little boy and then a loving big brother and then on to his years as a teenager.  

The slideshow began with the song “What a Wonderful World”, which was both so appropriate and so moving that many, many people – men and women, young and old – could be seen quietly wiping their tears away. 

The celebration was officiated by Jason Cody, a spiritual leader in the community who knew Peyton well and baptized him. Steve Weeks, a friend of the family, played the guitar and sang “Country Roads” by John Denver, prefacing the song by asking the crowd to sing along as he wasn’t sure he “could get through the song by himself.” 

The honorary pallbearers were Landon Sanchez, Markis Sandoval, John Rothermich, Jr., Caden Allen, Larry Brown, Tyler Weaver, Matt Sandoval, Steven Rothermich, Stretch Naranjo and Scott Hensley.  

Following the ceremony, there was a procession led by the Alamosa Police Department which included fire engines from the Alamosa Fire Department to the Alamosa Cemetery where an inurnment ceremony was held, placing Peyton’s remains into a cremation urn. Peyton had told his parents, Charlie and Sheila, that his wish was to be cremated. 

At the conclusion of the inurnment, people were invited to the Armory to join in a meal in remembrance and celebration of the passing of an extraordinary young man.