More than 100 people gathered Tuesday evening at a candlelight a vigil remembering Patricia “Tricia” Shadell, who died by suicide Monday.
Friends and family huddled together at the gazebo in Rotary Park. Many embraced one another, but the crowd was largely silent.
La Plata Deputy Coroner Cathy Seibel said Shadell, 37, died in her home.
Shadell was a massage therapist and a mountain bike coach for Durango DEVO and EveryPedal Mountain Bike.
On her VIDA MTB Series page, the Tennessee native described herself as a rock climber, yoga instructor and horsewoman. In 2010, she learned to mountain bike, according to her page.
She started coaching for DEVO about seven years ago, and even though she couldn’t commit to coaching full seasons all the time, she was often invited back as a guest coach, said Sarah Tescher, DEVO co-founder and Shadell’s friend who organized the vigil.
“She would put others before herself,” Tescher said. “She was such an awesome person to have among kids; you begged her to come.”
Tescher described Shadell as a lively and fun coach who encouraged young female riders to believe in themselves on and off the bike.
Jim Meyer met Shadell in 2013 while on trip to Moab with endurance mountain bikers.
“She was always super positive, vibrant, full of beautiful energy,” Meyer said.
Meyer was going through a tough time during the trip, and he said Shadell continued to check up with him after the trip.
“She was always there for everybody else,” he said.
The vigil provided some small measure of relief for those mourning Shadell, many of whom were dressed in tutus because she often wore one tutu when riding her bike.
Other memorials are planned in Crested Butte and other parts of the state. Shadell lived briefly in Crested Butte before moving back to Durango, Meyer said.
Shadell’s family declined to be interviewed for this story.
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