AURORA RAE MASTERS

July 10, 2018–May 13, 2024

Aurora Rae Masters was born on July 10, 2018, and sang, danced and shone on earth until May 13, 2024. In her short five years, she earned the title of music baby, two black belt tips and hundreds of friends while touching so many hearts with her smile, laugh, joy and an infectious lust for life.

How do you fit Aurora into a paragraph? She was larger than life at 5. A dedicated martial artist who was recently awarded a certificate of bravery by her Dojo for her efforts in the rescue of a seizing dog. Fierce and gentle. Elsa and Wednesday. Spirit Halloween (the store) was her favorite and she wanted to go every day it was open.

She would wave at people while waiting in traffic to make them smile. She loved stay at home days because both parents are there all day, so Covid lockdown was awesome with her.

She knows bravery means doing something while being scared, not the absence of fear. Generous in all things, throughout her whole life, we know she would have wanted to donate her organs so others could live. A true helper, she was, just like Mr. Rogers told us to look out for when things got scary. Aurora lives on in the lives she saved.

Aurora once said “Holy Crap! That was fun,” after a particularly exhilarating slide launched her from it. That is how she lived her life and what she is saying right now.

Her time on earth was short, but upon reflection, we realized there would never have been enough time with her. We are thankful for our sweet Aurora and the blessed time we got to have her with us. Love each other, find solace in the joy of community and make sure you dance every single day.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 8, at First United Methodist Church, 1005 S. Stover Street, Ft. Collins.

The family is setting up a memorial fund for Aurora. To contribute, friends and family may go to gofundme.com/f/stand-with-tom-and-krystal-for-auroras-fight.

Aurora is survived by her parents, Tom and Krystal (Lease) Masters; half-brother, Wyatt Masters; grandparents, Bob and Julie Lease Firebaugh; great-grandparents, Wilbur and Normal Lease; great-aunt and -uncle, Brenda and Joe Kennedy; many special cousins including Abby Kennedy, Jessica Wenzel Lay and Andy Firebaugh.

Others she joins in heaven are her aunt, Connie Lease Wenzel and cousin Jacob Kennedy.