David Lawrence Sanchez

David Lawrence Sanchez, 68, of Greeley, Colorado has "Gone Fishin’ in Heaven” on October 19, 2021 from his home in Greeley, Colorado. He passed away from a rare brain disease called Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. David was born in Laramie, Wyoming to Mauricio Celestino and Elnora Ida (Vigil) Sanchez on May 19, 1953. On July 31, 1976 in Cedaredge Colorado, David married the love of his life, Ebbie Ann (Simon) Sanchez. David graduated from North Park High School in Walden Colorado in 1971. He graduated from Mesa Jr. College in Grand Junction, Colorado in 1973 and from the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley in 1975. He worked several years at the Greeley Boy’s Club after graduation. In 1979, David became the first director of the Jesus Rodarte Cultural Center. He later transferred to the Greeley Recreation Center, where he served the community as a Recreation Program Manager until his retirement in 2018. David coached girls and boys city, competitive and high school soccer teams. David’s passion and heart was always to teach and excite youth and adults in athletics and the outdoors. After retirement, he became an instructor at Colorado Youth Outdoors in Ft. Collins and a volunteer for the Platte River Veterans Fly Fishing organization of Northern Colorado & Wyoming. David is survived by his wife; daughters Ana Sanchez (Kenroy) Smith, and Lucia Sanchez (James) Norton; grandchildren, Esseney & Reiss Smith; Evelyn, Henry, Elias& Harold Norton; brother, Mauricio (Shirley Shutco) Sanchez and a large loving extended family. David was preceded in death by his parents & brother, Ernesto Martinez. A Celebration of Life will be held in the Summer 2022. Donations in memory of David can be sent to: Colorado Youth Outdoors, 4927 E. County Road 36, Ft. Collins, CO. 80528