December 3, 1952 – January 11, 2026

Peggy Van Vliet passed away peacefully at home on Sunday, January 11, 2026. She was 73.
Peggy was born on December 3, 1952 in Los Angeles, CA to Jack Gene and Alice Terry (Smith) Little. She was raised in a loving home with two brothers, and two sisters.
Peggy grew up in the San Fernando Valley, and she was a true Southern California girl. She loved everything about the beach; swimming in the ocean, walking in the sand, collecting seashells, and listening to the Beach Boys. Some of her fondest memories were family vacations to Catalina Island. She was always happiest outside soaking up the sun, and her personality reflected this, she was our sunshine.

Shortly after graduating from Grover Cleveland High School, Peggy married her first husband Paul Tate, and they moved to Steamboat Springs, Colorado, a beautiful mountain town, nestled in the Rocky Mountains. This is where she embraced, and loved life for the next 50 years. She raised her two sons, Jesse Tyler, and Cory Skyler here, and they were her proudest achievements, and her greatest legacy. She was a fun, loving, and devoted Mother, and she encouraged them every step of the way to excel whether at sports, or in their careers. She showed this same love and devotion to her two grandsons, Tyler Paul, and Taylor Ryan, who filled her life with happiness, and laughter. She was always on the sidelines cheering them on, and sharing in their many achievements.

In 1997 Peggy married Michael Van Vliet, and she began a new chapter in her life. Michael and Peggy shared a love for the outdoors and they enjoyed getting out on the open road. They made countless trips to California visiting family, riding bikes in Utah’s National Parks, and trips to Lake Powell with friends.

She had many passions. She loved football, and baseball, riding her bike, gardening, baking, and interior decorating. But her greatest passion throughout her life was the love she had for her family. She had a talent for hosting, and she simply adored get-togethers, whether celebrating a birthday, holiday, or watching the Denver Broncos. She was the heart of our family, and the glue that held us all together.

Peggy devoted a big part of her life to physical therapy, teaching fitness classes, and personal training. She began a career working at SportsMed in Steamboat Springs, CO when they opened their doors in 1989. Her years of hands-on experience in physical therapy, along with her positive attitude, compassion, and a little laughter became her recipe for healing. Whether she was helping a patient rehab, or teaching her water aerobics classes, she made getting fit fun. And this dedication to helping others extended into her 70’s.

Peggy is survived by her husband Michael, her two sons, Cory, and his wife Nakia, Jesse, and his wife Paola, and the two loves of her life, her grandsons, Tyler, and Taylor. She is also survived by her two sisters, Beverly, and her husband Mark, Jackie, and her partner Eric, her brother Scott, her nephew Jeremy, and her two nieces, Shelby, and her husband Kynan, Gwen, and her fiancé Cory. Her older brother Ron passed in 2002.

Our Peggy: A precious mother, joyful grandmother, caring wife, supportive sister, attentive aunt, and dear friend, we have all been blessed by our connection to her in this life.

Her beautiful smile, and the sound of her laughter will live on in our hearts forever.
A celebration of Peggy’s life will be held on June 20th, 1-3 PM, at the Yampa River Botanic Park.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness,
goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things,
there is no law.”
Galatians 5: 22-23
For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
Isaiah 55: 12