Sophia Wessell

Our beloved, precious, one-of-a-kind daughter, Sophia Esther Wessell made a fateful, impulsive, life-changing decision in the early morning hours of Wednesday, August 22, 2018 when she left this world. We are heartbroken at the abrupt end to our most colorful, flamboyant teenage daughter's life and saddened we won't be able to see her reach the potential she had and the amazing adventures she would have experienced in this life. Sophia was born in the early morning hours of January 23, 2002 narrowly missing sharing the same birthday as her older sister. She attended Boulder Elementary School, Will James Middle School, and West High before transitioning to the Career Center Transitions program where she thrived. She tried many activities including: soccer, softball, gymnastics, swimming, dance, and cheerleading before deciding she loved dance and modeling the most. Her long thin legs seemed endless and her slender build perfect for the camera and the thousands of “selfies” taken at every opportunity. She perfected her makeup and took pride in her beautiful eyes, eyebrows, and perfectly placed mole on the right spot of her cheek. Her great-grandmother Esther always commented on her perfectly shaped full lips. Sophia had a flare for the extreme changing her hair color from raven to platinum overnight. She was our Dramatic Red Rose and had the perfect face befitting the elegant name we chose for her. Sophia was always high energy and rambunctious keeping those around her on their toes. Her soul was the meaning of the phrase “vim and vigor.” She was excited about her last school choice telling us she loved the program as it catered to her needs and style of learning. She was devoted to her job at Krispy Kreme and was proud every time she was told she was the best worker that cleaned the most thoroughly, although her bedroom, bathroom, and car would display the opposite. We always knew when she was home from work as her car entered the garage blasting music that would rattle windows. She smelled like sugary sweet cotton candy as she proudly proclaimed how many donuts she ate while on shift. When finally resting at night, Sophia would take the family dogs to her room to snuggle and smother them with love before ultimately kicking out Buzz proclaiming, “He snores too loud and Woody shares the pillow more.” She also loved talking late at night to her older sister about every crazy subject imaginable, which she would later tell her mom about if only to hear the response “Geez, Sophie!” That response made her laugh hard every time. She looked to her older brother to be proud of her and would seek him out to tell him what was happening in her life. His approval meant the world to her. Sophia was the most exciting, thrilling, suspenseful, exhilarating roller-coaster ride a parent could ever experience. We are forever grateful to have had this time with her. Sophia is preceded in death by her Great-Grandparents George and Esther Frank, Harvey and Min Balison, Grandmother Esther Vigus Popovich, Aunt and Uncle Marcia and Dale Owen. She leaves behind her parents John and Anna Wessell, sister Emily (fiancé Matthew Dundas), brother Christian, Grandparents Jeff and Connie Balison, Uncle Dave and Aunt Aymee (cousins Emma, Kate, Grace, Lily), Uncle Christopher and Aunt Lissa (cousins Karter, Emerson), Aunt Rhonda Martinez (cousins Cindie, Joe), Uncle Rick and Carrie, all the Owen and Chesmore extended cousins, extended family in Butte, MT, California, Canada, Wyoming, Colorado. Sophia spent special time with her first cousin once removed, Whitne, her friends Sarah, Becca, Nevaeh, Vanessa her work friend, and special sweet boy Brandon as she exerted her independence growing into adulthood. We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone for the immeasurable support. Your gestures of kindness including phone calls, texts, stops by the house to bring food and other essentials, and beautiful floral arrangements that have flooded our home have helped us begin the healing process. We are reassured and comforted by Scripture, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Mark 10:14) Sophia's life will be remembered and celebrated Saturday, Sept. 1, 2pm Faith Chapel with viewing starting at 1pm, interment at Yellowstone Valley Memorial Park followed by a reception at Faith Chapel. Donations can be made to Suicide Prevention programs, any pet shelter, Boulder Arrowhead Little League (where she hung out to eat many times during the summers). Arrangements are in the care of Dahl Funeral Chapel and memories and condolences may be shared at www.dahlfuneralchapel.com