September 22, 1932 – March 5, 2025

Sureva Codel Towler (September 22, 1932 – March 5, 2025)
Steamboat Springs lost a legend on March 5 with the passing of Sureva Towler, 92. A historian, writer, community advocate, and resident for 53 years, Sureva dedicated her life to preserving and telling the stories of the Yampa Valley.
Sureva first arrived in Steamboat as a camper in the 40s, traveling by train from her home in Washington, D.C. to attend Perry-Mansfield. She dreamed of becoming a dancer, but instead found herself on horseback and in love with the Yampa Valley.
As a young adult, Sureva had a dynamic career working for the Democratic National Committee during the Kennedy Administration, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
In 1972, she and her daughter, Judy, traded city life for the mountains and made Steamboat home. A year later, plumber and cowboy, “Crazydave” Towler, received a house call on Laurel Street. Dave came for a broken pipe and stayed for dinner. They were married that Spring. The two raised hell, children, and Labradors surrounded by friends.
Sureva wrote nine books, countless newspaper columns, and award-winning essays. She worked as a county administrator, grant writer, publisher, and plumber’s wife, turning her experiences into material for The Steamboat Pilot, The Denver Post, and her most awarded book, The Boys at the Bar. Her writing earned recognition from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists, Denver Newspaper Guild, Colorado Authors League, and Colorado Historical Foundation.
She helped establish four Fire Protection Districts, Steamboat and Oak Creek Library Districts, the Routt County Archives, and the Solandt Memorial Hospital Medical Office Building. She served on numerous boards including United Way, Routt County Emergency Medical Services, East Routt Library District, and Tread of Pioneers Museum. Sureva was awarded the Hazie Werner Community Service Award, Bud Werner Memorial Library Best Friend Award, City Council Meritorious Service Award, and Winter Sports Club Grand Marshal title.
When she became Granny Baby, she split time between Steamboat and Lawrence, Kansas to be with Judy and Tim Keller and to teach Rachel, Regan, and Sadie how to “slay dragons, drink red beer, dance on tabletops, and pee in the woods.” Sureva became Great Granny in 2021 and taught Elliott, Audie, and Charlie Towler how to shoot pool during their visits to Casey’s Pond.
A celebration of Sureva’s life will be held this Summer. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to the Bud Werner Memorial Library, Tread of Pioneers Museum, or American Civil Liberties Union.