Alicia Burrough Obituary

Alicia DeAun Burrough Boughan, 39, of Frederick, Colorado, passed away on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, surrounded by the deep love of her family and friends. Alicia was born on May 18, 1986, in Lubbock, Texas, to Brett and Colene Burrough, her father's favorite birthday present. After a brief year in Ohio, she spent most of her childhood in Arvada, Colorado, where she grew up in a close-knit and lively home and developed the vibrant spirit that would carry her through the rest of her life. Colorado remained the place she would always consider home. In 2008, Alicia met James Boughan at Leela European Café in downtown Denver. What began as a chance meeting quickly became a lasting partnership and a life built on fierce devotion and deep friendship. They were married in October of that same year in her parents' backyard, a setting that reflected the closeness and warmth that defined their relationship. Together they created a home centered on love, laughter, and the joyful raising of their two sons, Asher and Atticus, who were the pride and center of Alicia's world. She also shared a love of music with James - he on guitar and Alicia singing beside him in their karaoke duets, something that brought her joy and became a favorite memory for both of them. Alicia was, in every sense, striking. People noticed her the moment she entered a room - not only for her natural beauty, but for the way she transformed it again and again through color, style, and fearless self-expression. Her ever-changing rainbow hair, from soft pastels to bold, vivid shades, her perfectly composed outfits, and her ability to move effortlessly from intense and strong looks with bold and bright colors to subtler styles with natural tones made her seem almost like a different person from season to season. She was constantly stopped and complimented by strangers, but what stayed with people was not just how stunning she was - it was the warmth, humor, and openness that met them right behind it. Even through the hardest physical trials of her illness, her beauty remained unmistakably striking - not in spite of what she was facing, but in the same way she always had. She was vibrant, quirky, and completely herself, and she made space for others to be fully themselves too. She loved fiercely and spoke honestly. She had a strong sense of justice, believed deeply in inclusion, and held people accountable when it mattered, always from a place of compassion and care. She had a rare ability to make people feel seen and accepted without pretense. She found her professional calling in the beauty industry, attending the Aveda Institute and quickly establishing herself as a talented and trusted stylist. At Floyd's Barbershop in Arvada, she built lasting relationships with clients and coworkers alike. She had regular clients who were so loyal they followed her to the Longmont location and, when she could no longer withstand full shifts, continued to sit in her chair at home. Her chair was more than a place for a haircut - it was a place where people felt welcomed, heard, and valued, and where her creativity and bright spirit were on full display. In 2021, Alicia and her family moved to Frederick, Colorado, to be closer to those who meant the most to them. Their home became a gathering place filled with warmth, laughter, her beloved cats Scorpius and Flurffkin, and the constant presence of family and friends. Alicia first faced cervical cancer in 2020 with remarkable determination and endured treatment with the same strength and resolve that defined every part of her life. When the cancer returned in late 2024, she met it head-on and fought far beyond what anyone expected. She continued through difficult treatments with a resilience that stunned her doctors and inspired everyone around her, pushing forward on her own terms and in her own time. After a late-January hospitalization, she was told she would never be able to return home. Once again, Alicia showed her strength by proving she was stronger than the predictions placed in front of her. She left the hospital and spent her final weeks at home on hospice, surrounded by the people, the comfort, and the animals she loved most. During that time, friends and family traveled from across the country to be with her - a reflection of the enormous and lasting impact she had on so many lives. One of those visits was from a dear friend she had long hoped to see again, and after that reunion Alicia was able to let go peacefully a short time later. Alicia is survived by her husband, James; her sons, Asher and Atticus; her parents, Brett and Colene Burrough; her siblings, Benjamin Burrough, Jennifer Wenningkamp, Travis Nellis, and Eric Nellis; her extended family and in-laws; and a wide and devoted circle of friends who became family. A celebration of Alicia's life will be held at Crossroads Church of Denver on Saturday, March 28, at 2:00 p.m. Alicia's life was defined by courage, authenticity, brightness, and a fierce and radiant love for her family and her community. She leaves behind a legacy of color, strength, compassion, and the reminder to live boldly, care deeply, and make space for everyone to belong.