Sean "Cowboy" Thomas Walsh

Sean “Cowboy” Thomas Walsh

July 29, 1970 ~ June 29, 2016

Sean “Cowboy” Thomas Walsh, 45, of Montrose, Co., died June 29, 2016, from a brain aneurysm.  Born July 29, 1970, in El Paso, Texas, to William “Bill” Walsh and Anne Abel Walsh. As a young boy, Sean fell off a barn and cracked his skull, and later developed a cancerous brain tumor. But being an obstinate child, he refused to listen to doctors who said he wouldn’t make it to his teens. And being tenacious, he refused to listen to his mother and spent all of his days and most of his nights running wild in the mountains and valleys of the West. Not much for formal education, he managed to graduate from Petaluma High School despite his best efforts to the contrary. He attended college at Feather River College in Quincy, Cal., in pursuit of his dream of becoming a game warden. He cultivated a life-long love affair with cowboy culture and truly lived by his cowboy code of ethics.

In 2007, he married CiEra Harne in Beuamont, Cal. They moved to Colorado and had a beautiful baby girl Feb. 15, 2008, Aspen Willow Walsh, his Little Two Trees. Having a baby changed him into a father, and he had a little shadow to follow him on all of his adventures. Even after Sean and CiEra divorced, he remained actively involved in her life and always made sure Aspen had wide-open spaces to play and explore. One of his favorite activities was watching Aspen ride horses. Sean met Tammi Brown in 2013 and immediately began to woo the hazel-eyed beauty who wouldn’t take his guff. Of course he was smitten, and Tammi finally agreed to welcome Sean into her life and family home on the river. They remained partners, friends and lovers until his death.

Not one for organized religion, Sean had a deep faith in God and Christ, and his church was at the top of the mountain. He will be remembered for his love of cowboy poetry, sketching wildlife, hunting, fishing and caring for animals. He was an avid archer and loved to share his hunting, fishing and animal husbandry skills with Aspen and many others. As a farrier, he shod a thousand horses. As a cowboy he repaired mile after mile of fences. As a hunting guide, he roamed and tracked a million hills. He would often hang out with his friends in low places where they would play poker and two-step. Not only did he love the outdoors, but he also had a passion for projects, including renovating Tammi’s family home. He rode broncos and bulls on the rodeo circuit and took to bullfighting like he was born in the ring.  He had a heart as big as the Western sky. If he knocked you down, he’d be the first to give you a hand back up. He’d ride a black tornado through hell to help a friend, and would do the same for a stranger in need of help. He hunted everything from elk to bears to wild hogs—he was fearless of both man and beast. His eyes were alight with a childlike sparkle, yet his countenance always contained a mysterious grin.

Sean is survived by the love of his life Tammi Brown of Montrose, and his daughter Aspen Walsh of Montrose, and many other loving friends and family members who will greatly miss his no-holds-barred attitude and ferocious loyalty.  He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Willow Anne Walsh-Hughes.  A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 16, at 5:00 p.m., at Billy Creek (directions can be found on his Facebook page and signs will be posted at the Billy Creek entrance).  Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory in Montrose is assisting the family.