Sondra Dale Brannon

Sondra Dale Brannon was born on May 13, 1944 to Dale and Evelyn Freeburg of Spencer, Iowa. She

grew up on a farm south of town. Those of you that know her as a city dweller would be surprised to

know that she participated in 4H and raised a runner-up Grand Champion steer at the Clay County Fair in

Spencer. She also participated in all the activities surrounding farm life- picking eggs, walking beans,

detasseling corn and checking pastures for wayward livestock. She graduated from Spencer High School

and went on to attend and graduate from Cosmetology school. In September, 1964, her life changed

when she became a mother to Robert Dale Meyer. She had all the struggles of being a single mom and

trying to provide for her son along with the challenges of the stigma attached to being a single mother

at the time. She married Leroy Meyer of Sioux City a couple of years later and were stationed at the

USAFA in Colorado Springs and they had Troy Lee Meyer in September of 1969. They had moved a few

times due to military obligations and eventually settled in Aurora, Colorado.

She continued her career in Aurora and developed a following quickly. Her clientele grew because of her

ability to cultivate lasting relationships, genuinely caring about her customers and her perpetually

positive attitude. Again, she became a single mom and was divorced in 1976. She continued to raise her

children in Aurora and, in spite of them, managed to get both successfully through high school. She

married Robert Brannon in 1985 and they continued to live in Aurora.

Shortly after, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She fought and won that battle, only to be

diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis a short time later. She fought this disease with all the grace and

fortitude that a person could muster. It impacted her life dramatically, gradually taking away her

abilities to do many things for herself and crippling her ability to walk and work. Despite these

challenges, her positive attitude prevailed, and no one would have been the wiser if they hadn’t seen

her struggle in person. Two hip replacements, two knee replacements and countless visits to doctors

ensued. Additional consequences of this disease resulted in development of Interstitial Lung Disease

setting the stage for future pulmonary issues including multiple visits and holidays in the hospital

fighting pneumonia.

She continued to work doing hair up until the week before she was admitted to the hospital December

15, 2023. She was admitted for pneumonia, but a sepsis diagnosis soon followed. She fought both

illnesses and was eventually infection and pneumonia free before being inflicted with a fungal lung

infection. She was on a ventilator the majority of the ICU stay. She was recovering and trying to rid

herself of the ventilator when the sepsis returned. It was unforgiving and brutal the second time around

and eventually took her from us February 25, 2024. She spent 72 days in the hospital ICU fighting to

stay alive for her boys. She passed peacefully with both of her sons and close friend, Tami, by her side.

She will be missed terribly. She is survived by her sons, Robert Meyer of Gulfport, FL, Troy Meyer of

Idaho Springs, CO, Two grandchildren, Jake Meyer of Boulder, Co and Owen Meyer of Ft. Collins, CO her

brother Marv Freeburg of Branson, MO, several cousins, nieces and nephews and literally countless

friends and clients.

To honor her memory, a Celebration of Life is planned for April 7, 2024, from 3:30pm to 7:00pm at the

Eagle Lodge, 1151 S. Galena St., Aurora, CO, 80247.