Virgil D Sykes

Virgil Sykes, age 90, passed away February 20, 2026 at home in Simla, Colorado. He was born July 19, 1935 to Carl and Mae (McKnight) Sykes, the youngest of 4 children in Deridder, Louisiana. Before he was one year old, they moved to Colorado living in and around the Matheson area, where he attended school. As a teenager, Virgil drove a truck delivering cattle for farmers in the area. He then entered the army and spent most of his enlisted time in France driving trucks. After being honorably discharged from the service, he drove trucks for Link truck lines and Harding truck lines.

In 1959, he married the love of his life, Lavon Pearson. They were married for 66 years. They had one son, Michael Dale, who died in infancy, and one daughter, Brenda Sue.

Virgil worked for Lasater Ranch until they moved to Denver, where he worked at Bankers Warehouse during the day, and at a gas station in the evening. Despite his work schedules, Virgil still found time to go to mechanics school on the GI Bill.

They lived in Denver 8 years before moving to Simla. He continued working at Bankers Warehouse for his 8-hour shift, then would drive their truck to Limon and deliver merchandise. He then, after delivering to Limon, drove the truck to Simla. Later he worked in Limon for Clay Motors as a mechanic and then for Monks Construction Company. At Monks Construction, he drove their cement trucks hauling cement to them. He would sometimes have to be up at 4 am to go get the cement.

After he retired from Monks, he and Lavon ran Lavon's Antiques. He would do most of the buying, and she would do most of the selling. He particularly enjoyed any antiques having to do with gas stations. Virgil restored many old gas pumps. They ran the store until just after his ninetieth birthday, when they had to close because of his declining health.

Virgil was a good man. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He was a good neighbor, moving snow, driving others to appointments and helping out with anything they needed. He was a man of his word, if he agreed to it, he did it.

Virgil was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Mae, his siblings Shirley Grant, Elmer Sykes, and Carl Jr. Sykes, and his infant son Michael. He is survived by his wife Lavon, daughter Brenda (Glenn) and grandkids Susan (Cory), Melissa (Chris), Joseph (Chisholm), and Stephen, as well as 6 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held Monday, March 2, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. at Matheson Community Bible Church, 36882 Broadway Ave, Matheson, Colorado. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Simla Volunteer Fire Department.