OBITUARIES

October 26, 1994 - April 17, 2023

On Monday, April 17th, the world lost a wild, restless and bursting soul, Justin George Myers. Justin was born on October 26, 1994. He became unexpectedly ill and passed peacefully, with friends and family at his bedside, at MAYO Clinic Hospital, in Phoenix, AZ, much too soon.

Justin was born and raised in Golden CO. He was one of four children. At an early age, Justin developed a passion for all sports, and in particular, soccer. He turned the house upside down, at times, with his constant energy and infectious humor. As a GHS graduate of 2013, he then followed his calling to the Paci c Northwest for college, in Portland, OR.

In his short life of 28 years, he was a shining son, brother, nephew, cousin, friend, in-law, and husband. Justin leaves behind his wife, Cheyenne Cockrell, Gilbert AZ; older sister, Jennifer Shepler (Jordan), Lakewood, CO; older sister, Laura Myers-Noriega (Yon), Tigard, OR; younger sister, eresa Myers, Lakewood, CO; his parents, Jean and Matt Myers of Golden CO; mother-in-law, Jody Richards, Gilbert, AZ and brother-in-law,

Jordan Richards, Montreal, Canada. In addition, Justin leaves 33 cousins, 22 aunts and uncles, godmother-Renee Bauer, Rockton, IL, and godfatherDavid Mooney, Sudbury, MA. Also, Justin leaves good friends, neighbors, and co-workers, all too many to count. We will spend a long time trying to gure out why our time with you was cut short. Rest easy now, we love you forever!

A celebration of life is to be held at Pine Valley Ranch Park-30400 Crystal Lake Road, Pine Grove, CO on Wed.,May 17, 2023 at 4:00PM

Justin and Cheyenne have many passions, and one of these was to be enthusiastic and intense fans of the Portland Timbers soccer club. Justin played both recreational and competitive soccer all of his life, was a referee and coach for Colorado Ice Soccer Club of Golden, CO. Justin’s wife and parents ask that in lieu of owers, donations be made via Venmo as: @JustinsSoccerFund or check (mailed to 267 Kimball Ave, Golden, CO 80401) to fund youth soccer scholarships in Justin’s memory.

Leland Darrell McBride (88) passed away peacefully at home on April 21, 2023. A resident of Golden, CO since 1953. Lee loved his Golden community and served it well for 65 years.

Please join us in a celebration of life Monday, May 29, 2023 starting at 11:00am with reception following at the Golden Hotel, 800 11th Street, Golden, CO 80401 until 3:00pm.

RSVP by texting your name and how many persons to (303) 641-4157. Full obituary at dignity.com.

BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Pools around the metro area are gearing up to open for the summer. at is, if there are enough lifeguards.

e years-long trend where pools have cut hours or closed altogether appears to be waning, though it’s still a possibility in some places, according to aquatics managers across the Denver area, who are more optimistic than in past years, but still concerned as summer nears.

For instance, South Suburban Parks and Recreation needs 250 lifeguards for its peak summer season but has only 183 ready to go.

Karl Brehm, the recreation dis- trict’s aquatics manager, hopes to get closer to the goal as summer approaches but wonders why applications are so slow to roll in.

“I have seen, more and more, less interest in the position,” Brehm said.

He’s been in the business for a long time. Brehm worked at Elitch Gardens for ve seasons and the Highlands Ranch Community Association for 16 years. He said he’s seen a general lack of interest, generationally, from young people who want to do the job. Fewer people are becoming CPR certi ed as well, he added.

“I’ve often wondered why we were having those issues,” Brehm said. “Back in the day, I remember if you didn’t have your job by spring break, you weren’t getting a summer job.” e problem could a ect South Suburban pools across the district, which serves more than 150,000 residents in Bow Mar, Columbine Valley, Littleton, Sheridan, Lone Tree and parts of Centennial and Douglas, Je erson and Arapahoe counties.

If he can’t hire enough lifeguards, hours at pools could be cut, Brehm said. It’s not for a lack of trying, though. e district has introduced incentives, bonuses, pay bumps and more in hopes of luring in more lifeguards.

South Suburban isn’t alone. ere’s a national lifeguard shortage, which was exacerbated by the pandemic. Lifeguard shortages a ected roughly a third of public pools throughout the country.

In response last year, Gov. Jared Polis announced a “Pools Special Initiative 2022,” in which Colorado introduced incentives. Chief among them was a $1,000 payment to those who completed lifeguard training to ght pool postponements and decreasing operating hours.

Now, out of necessity, hiring lifeguards is ongoing throughout the entire summer season, Brehm said. Lifeguards for South Suburban make between $15 and $19.14 per hour, per South Suburban’s website. A head lifeguard makes $15.75 - $19.93 per hour.

But there are additional costs to South Suburban. ough life-