Ty Cruz Mitchell was born on November 5, 2003, in Ft. Collins, Colorado. He passed away on August 10, 2022. “Cruz” paid homage to Ty’s Hispanic culture and family ties to Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Ty loved his family and friends and was described as a bright spirit, happy about everything. He lit up this world with his playful, happy attitude and keen wit. He loved to tease and was always a jokester. He was also a planner and had many goals. He knew he was going places and was always trying to achieve more.

Ty didn’t just dream of his goals, he eagerly planned them. Seizing life and making it happen. He had already completed a year’s worth of college credits before graduating from  Pouder High School in May 2022. Ty had a plan and had been working that plan for years. He was going to start school at Ames Community College in Greeley and then transfer to the University of Wyoming to get a degree in Construction Management. Ty’s goal was to learn to build houses for families. He always wanted to help people and serve.

He had friends from all walks of life and everyone knew who he was; his boisterous personality filled the room with his energy. He had nicknames for everyone, and the more offensive the more he loved you. His friends loved it!

A wide circle of friends and family all have stories to share of  Ty’s fun, caring personality. One night with nothing much to do he and his friends played basketball inside the Walmart store for about three hours. The employees just let them play.

Ty had an innate sense of gratitude. He constantly thanked people for even very basic things,  a meal, a  trip, a new pair of shoes. He was known for cutting a deal, always trying to contribute  and benefit someone else, even when he didn’t have to. He showed compassion to everyone he met. Ty especially loved coming home to a home-cooked meal and was excited when his stepmom Barb made plenty of leftovers. He enjoyed eating them cold for breakfast right out of the fridge.

Family vacations always included some type of adventure. On a trip to Cancun, one of the things Ty really wanted to do was ride a zipline. His mom, Diana, is terrified of heights but was the only one available to do this with him as a parent was required to go too. It was only after they had harnessed up and climbed the tower that they learned the zipline was just the first in a series of six, each getting progressively steeper. Ty just started giggling and had to push his mom off the platform, and every one after when she was terrified to jump. He zipped along behind her, laughing the entire way.

Known for his love of the outdoors, Ty’s passion was elk hunting. He liked to say, “We’re going for the thicky bulls this year.” He had started to take point in planning hunting trips with his best friends, his dad Adam and his brother, Cody. Adam and Ty loved to talk nonstop about all kinds of things, but especially hunting.  Earlier this summer Ty and Cody took a scouting trip alone up in the mountains to get ready for the elk hunt this fall.

Insight into Ty’s character shines in one of Cody’s favorite memories. Ty let him drive his truck while Cody practiced driving and never corrected him. He showed Cody trust and just let him “be” as they spent time together just hanging out and riding around in the truck or going on fishing trips.

One of the things the brothers have always done was say “I love you” every day. Even if he was with friends, Ty was never embarrassed to say, “I love you.”  “Goodnight Mama, we love you,” was often the last thing Diana heard each night before they headed downstairs to their rooms.

He had extensive experience in construction and finish work from working alongside his dad Adam and stepdad Larry in the remodeling and construction work they did.  He got a job with a framing crew when he was just 17 and his willingness to learn earned him a valued spot as the first pick on the team. He worked several summers in construction work gaining experience. He loved it and was never late.

Another favorite family memory was the fence painting incident. Ty and his brother Cody were charged with helping their grandma paint a fence when Ty was 11 or 12. He was putting more paint on the ground than he was getting on the fence. So his grandma taught him to paint and said it took at least three more gallons but it was worth it. Ty became a good painter, sometimes.

Ty loved to travel as long as there was outdoors or ocean-related fun to experience. His many family adventures included trips to Disneyland and Disneyworld the Grand Canyon, Cancun, San Diego, and Texas. The family made several trips to Texas where Ty enjoyed ocean fishing for Red Drum fish.

For his high school graduation, he traveled to Hawaii and hiked with his family and discovered a love of cliff jumping and snorkeling with sea turtles, as well as bodysurfing in the ocean. During one hike to a waterfall that turned into an all-day adventure, Ty gave extra help and kindness to his stepmom as she struggled with the long hike.

Deep sea fishing in Alaska was another adventure full of shared memories with his family after high school.  His teasing personality and sweet nature made each of these trips memorable and fun.

Ty’s short, rich life was full of joy, good friends, and loving family. He would want others to live life to the fullest just like he did. Dream, plan, and say “I love you” every day.

 

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation at https://www.rmef.org/donate/donation-packages/