Stanley Joseph Vyvial

Beloved father and grandfather, Stanley (Stan) Joseph Vyvial, born February 6, 1947, in Litchfield, Illinois, passed away with compassionate care at Pathways Hospice, surrounded by his family, on January 9, 2024, in Fort Collins, CO, at 76.


The youngest of the family, Stan grew up hunting and fishing with his father around the woods in Illinois. Stan was always known for his wry smile, slightly mischievous grin, and stubborn tenacity. He graduated from Staunton High School in 1965. Stan went straight to college after graduation, where he earned his Bachelor's of Science in Teaching and Psychology and graduated in 1969. After graduating, Stan enlisted in the Air Force, where he 'flew a typewriter,' which meant he worked at Wilford Hall Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, as a staff sergeant with medical accolades. He was honorably discharged in 1973 and moved to Fort Collins, Colorado, to manage JCPenny's store just south of the Armstrong Hotel. While working at JCPenny's, he was a manager and print model and met his former wife, Andrea Leigh King. Stan and Andrea were married on May 6, 1978, amid a terrible blizzard in Fort Collins. Andrea brought her son, Harold Adam Meyer, into the family, and in June of 1979, he had his daughter Jessica.


Stan loved golfing, scoring a hole-in-one on the 9th hold at the City Park Golf Course on October 3, 2018. He excelled at woodworking (even when slicing BOTH of his thumbs on a table saw on different projects), collected coins, became an avid Words with Friend player (which reconnected him with scores of old friends from high school), and all around jack of all trade. Stan left working at JCPenny's in 1978 to be a UPS Truck Driver in Greeley, Colorado. During his tenure, he was awarded safe driving certificates and enjoyed driving the rural routes around Eaton, even finding the perfect first barn cat for Jessica while delivering packages.


In 1993, Stan decided to strike out on his own and founded Choice Driver's Education, where he worked until he retired in 2017. Stan taught thousands of teenagers to drive safely and loved teaching international students. He had a map where he would have people mark their origins, with hundreds of pins worldwide. Stan was fearless and was driven up to and from Estes Park every week for decades; he never grew tired of that drive or the view of Lake Estes, where he would stop with students and take some time for the students to stretch their legs. In 2002, Stan purchased a red convertible, and he loved taking everyone up through the canyon with the top down.


What defined Stan the most, however, was his love for his daughter and grandchildren. He would play poker as willingly as he pretended to be a wolf while playing with his grandkids. His business allowed him to watch Emma and Skyler from when they were eight weeks old until they left him for kindergarten. He spent hours napping on the floor, putting their diapers on backward, purchasing handbells (which had to stay at his house), and playing with and creating puppets, tents, kitchens, and train tables. He painted benches pink and purple for them and made them sandboxes. His love and devotion for them were always known, and he would brag to anyone who stood still long enough about them. He was at and saved every concert, play, card, and event Jessica, Emma, and Skyler participated in, usually with flowers, always with joy, pride, and love.


Stan is preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Rena Vyvial, and his beloved cat, Iris. He is survived by his daughter, Jessica Vyvial-Larson, of Fort Collins, stepson, Harold (Pam) Adam Meyer of Greeley, Colorado, granddaughters Emma and Skyler (fka Sophia) Larson, sister, Vernell (Tim) Doyle, and nephew Andrew (Nina) Doyle of Maryland, and niece Anne (James Holeman) Doyle, of Arizona, former spouse, Andrea King of Fort Collins, Colorado, and scores of school friends, golfing buddies, friends and roommates at Prestige Care Center and others who made him who he was and carry his memory as well.


Cremation has occurred, and ashes will both be spread, per his requests, and buried with military honors at Fort Logan Cemetary in the summer of 2024 - details will be updated as dates are determined. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Pathways, either online at pathways-care.org or by mail: Pathways, 305 Carpenter Road, Fort Collins, CO, 80525. Pathways Inpatient Care Center staff and facility were instrumental in helping Stan and his family with his transition; we are so grateful they were on our journey with us.