Sally’s Legacy: A Photography Project Honoring the Lives Behind the Smiles

Every face tells a story. Every smile holds a lifetime. And at the Gunnison Valley Senior Care Center, those stories belong to people who have shaped our families, our community, and the very fabric of this valley.

Sara Dobie, a local photographer and GVH team member who grew up in the Gunnison Valley, has spent years feeling called to capture the residents of our senior care community. This year, she is making that vision a reality through a heartfelt photography project called Sally’s Legacy.

“There is so much beauty in the faces of our elders,” Sara says. “Behind every face is a lifetime of stories, relationships, accomplishments, hardships, laughter, love, and memories.”

The Story Behind the Project

The project takes its name from Sara’s grandmother, Sally Coblentz. Sally is a nurse, a cowgirl, a wife, a mother, and a devoted supporter to countless people in this community. She has lived a life of service, strength, love, and adventure. Today, Sally is a resident at the Gunnison Valley Senior Care Center, and she is the reason this project is so close to Sara’s heart.

“Sally is the anchor of my family, our history, and so much of what I hold dear,” Sara writes. “She is my inspiration and has always been one of the most incredible people I have ever known.”

What began as a personal tribute to her grandmother has grown into something much larger. Sally’s Legacy is an invitation to celebrate an entire generation of people who have given so much to their families and to this community.

What the Project Involves

With the permission of participating residents and their families, Sara will create timeless black-and-white portraits designed to capture not only what each person looks like, but who they are. She is partnering with a canvas printing company to produce large, beautiful finished portraits that residents can display at the facility and families can treasure for generations.

Portrait sessions are scheduled for October 5 and October 7, with a special unveiling celebration to follow on the evening of December 8 at 3:30 p.m. at the Senior Care Center. The celebration is open to residents, families, friends, caregivers, and the broader Gunnison Valley community.

“My hope is that this evening will not only be an unveiling of photographs,” Sara says. “I hope it becomes a celebration of lives well lived, stories worth remembering, and people worth honoring.”

How You Can Help

Families are invited to sponsor their loved one’s portrait by contributing $120, which covers the cost of two 20x30-inch canvas prints, one for the resident to keep and enjoy at the facility, and one for the family to take home.

Sara is committed to making sure that every resident who wants to participate has the opportunity to do so, regardless of financial circumstances. If cost is a barrier, please reach out directly to discuss options. No resident will be left out.

“These photographs will become more than portraits,” Sara writes. “They will become pieces of history, something for families to hold onto, something for the residents to see themselves reflected in, and something future generations can look back on with pride and love.”

Get Involved & Donate

If you would like to donate to help provide a lasting memory for a Senior Care Resident, visit the link below.

Donate Today! https://venmo.com/u/GVHFoundation *Please annotate your donation as Sally's Legacy in the venmo app*

If you have additional sponsorship or participation questions, please contact:

Katy Walck or Teri Haus (portrait sponsorship and participation questions)

Katy: (970) 648-7058 | KWalck@gvh-colorado.org

Teri: (970) 648-7051 | THaus@gvh-colorado.org

Sara Dobie (Coblentz) (photography project questions)

(970) 275-8985 | sdobie@gvh-colorado.org