Sierra’s Story
Highway 16
My memoirs as remembered of my beautiful daughter
Sierra Marie Krizman
Sierra was and is in my heart forever more. This angel was blessed to her Mother and I in 1986 in Grand Junction, CO. This perfect little sole came to our young family, a twenty two year old mother, a father of twenty three and a sister of three, all ready to embrace this little girl. My memory seems to come in and out of clarity regarding these early years of fatherhood; pictures seem to stimulate the process and some days are better than others. Love always surrounded our family then and continues to this day, but I must admit as a young father I remember how often I was in a hurry. Looking back now, I wish these times were more savored, more appreciated; things seemed to be happening so fast for our family when sis was born. It was a time when we as such a young couple were buying our first home which seemed so impossible in itself, chaos was the norm and we never had a dull moment. Our little girls were our life; most of our friends had not started their families so our girls were an attraction to many of these future moms and dads. It was always strange to go to school functions when the girls were in elementary. Lisa and I were generally much younger than the other parents and we were so proud of the fact that we had such well behaved children. This by no means suggests that they were perfect, only in our eyes I’m sure. Sherrell was always prim and proper, and Sierra on the other hand, was kind of thrown together so to speak. This child wanted nothing other than to be with and like her older sister. Sierra was the shadow of her sister and mimicked her whenever possible. Like I mentioned, my memory fades, but to this day I cannot recall an argument between the two of these girls, Sierra wouldn’t have it, her older sister walked on water, she always took her side right or wrong. When reflecting back to Sierra in her very young years, the image of her is always sporting a Kool-Aid mustache with hair going in every direction. Lisa was forever keeping her up, but by the middle of the day that had all changed. I can never remember her not being happy, though if she got mad it never lasted and nothing ever seemed to be too important to her for very long. I do remember the tight braids that would slant her eyes, Lisa would work hard to get them just right only to have them frayed and wild by lunch, and the braids seemed to get tighter over time.
A Special Message Shared
by Sherrell at
Sierra’s Memorial Service
To my sister with love;
Sierra was a true friend to all that knew her. She was my little sister and best friend. I want to start by reading a few entries from her journal. She might not be too happy that I read it, but I feel that it is important for everyone to know the type of person Sierra was and how she lived her life.
