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Plane crash victims were ‘huge advocates’ of Steamboat Springs

The Makepeace family of Fort Collins, Jeff, Jennifer and their children, Addison and Benjamin, died Friday evening when their plane crashed in the White River National Forest north of Glenwood Springs.
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STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — The Fort Collins family who died in a plane crash Friday north of Glenwood Springs had a home in Steamboat Springs.

“I definitely would like this community to know how great these people were,” said Dawn Hehr, who has managed the Makepeace family’s home on Parkview Drive for the past nine years. “They were huge advocates of this town.”

Hehr said she was very good friends with the family, and she described them as selfless.



“They would go above and beyond to help people out,” Hehr said.

Jeff Makepeace, 47, his wife, Jennifer, 45, and their 10-year-old twins Addison and Benjamin were killed when their single-engine Cirrus SR22 crashed about 10 miles north of Glenwood in the White River National Forest.



That evening, the area saw stormy weather.

The Post Independent reported the family was flying from Fort Collins to Moab, Utah.

Hehr said Jeff Makepeace had recently gotten his pilot’s license and purchased the plane.

“It was the start of a new adventure for them,” Hehr said.

Jeff Makepeace owned Lind’s Plumbing & Heating in Fort Collins. Hehr said Jennifer Makepeace was a stay-at-home mom.
According to Hehr, the family spent quite a bit of time in Steamboat, but they primarily bought the home here to help others.

She said employees would frequently stay at the house, and the couple worked with charities to provide a vacation home for needy people.

Hehr said Jennifer Makepeace was a huge advocate of helping people, and the couple has used their own money to help employees treat addiction issues.

“Heaven got new angels because these people were remarkable,” Hehr said.

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland.


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