June 7, 1972 – August 31, 2025

They say only the good die young, and that is certainly true for Michael Wayne Vanzant, who lived from June 7, 1972, until August 31, 2025.

Michael was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and lived most of his life in Aurora, Colorado, to be near his mother, father, brother, and nieces. He loved his family dearly and spent much of his free time with them—especially during football season. However, the mountains called to Michael his entire life, and he spent his last 11 years living in a place he absolutely loved—Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He had great friends in Steamboat, like Ken Burns, Ed Andreoni, Travis Todd Elenz, Travis Gainsley, Mike and Patti Sitko and many others who cared deeply for him.

Michael was preceded in death by his grandparents Rev. Earl Gholson Vanzant and Roena Addlaid (Johnson) Vanzant of Portales, New Mexico and Donald Dale Smith of Sapulpa, Oklahoma. He is survived by his grandmother, Rubye Jayne Smith, of Sapulpa, Oklahoma; his mother and father, Donna Jayne (Smith) and Larry Wayne Vanzant, of Aurora, Colorado; his brother and sister-in-law, Steven Larry and Debra Lynn (Cirincione) Vanzant, of Aurora, Colorado; his nieces, Abigail Jayne and Kaylin Marie Vanzant, of Aurora, Colorado; numerous great aunts, aunts, uncles, and cousins throughout Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri; and many close friends across the United States. Michael is also survived by his former spouse, Lisa Marie Cirincione, to whom he was married from 1995 to 2014.

A celebration of Michael’s life will be on Saturday, October 11, 2025 from 2-6 at The Press, 1009 Lincoln Ave, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487.

https://www.yampavalleyfh.com/obituary/michael-vanzant