She moved to Colorado with her parents and brother, Herbert Earl, in her younger years. Frances graduated from Fort Collins High School, attended Colorado Women’s College and attended Colorado A & M, studying Design and Business. Her work career included time as a secretary with the Colorado A & M President’s Office and the Colorado State Forest Service. She was also a respected, award-winning interior designer for Homestead House in Fort Collins.
She married Donald (Doc) A. Pavel in March 1952 in Raton, New Mexico. They had three children—Julie (Pavel, Johnson) Haffner, Karen (Pavel, Zitting) Kreiner and Greg Pavel.
Frances and Raymond E. Ford (deceased) were married in April 1982 (LaPorte, Colorado). They celebrated their 30th anniversary in 2012.
She served her community through Chapter CO PEO, Kappa Alpha Theta (Beta Gamma Chapter), Symphony Women’s Guild, Service League, Fort Collins Country Club and First United Methodist Church. Frances enjoyed skiing, riding horses, golf, rose gardens, bridge, decorating and entertaining. She was an integral member of the group that established Inspiration Playground in Fort Collins.
While Hawaii was her all-time favorite travel destination, she was also able to travel the world including France, England, Greece, Turkey, Italy and Canada.
“Grammie” was a talented seamstress and wonderful cook. Family gatherings were known as Fran’s Family Food Frenzy! So, most of all, she enjoyed family gatherings and listening to “the latest” adventures and achievements of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The joy they brought to her and the pride she had in them knew no bounds.
Frances is survived by her children Julie Johnson Haffner and Gene (Windsor, CO), Karen Kreiner and Fred (Loveland, CO) and Greg Pavel (Littleton, CO); grandchildren Daniel Ray Zitting and Shannon Hoesing (Vancouver, Canada), Lindsay J. Miller and Joshua (Castle Rock, CO), Shannon Dawn Zitting (Denver, CO), Carrie Johnson Kern and Roland Kern (Del Rio, TX), Kelley Johnson (Manhattan Beach, CA) and Madison Elizabeth Pavel (Lindstrom, MN). Also great-grandchildren Harper Leigh Miller, Alan John (AJ) Kern, Dray Zitting and Ainsley Frances Kern.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother (Earl Ray) and husband (Raymond Ford).
To honor our mother (and in lieu of flowers), a contribution to Pathways Hospice or the Wounded Warriors Project would be very special to us, in care of Allnutt Funeral Service, 650 W. Drake Rd., Fort Collins, Colorado.
Visitation will be held Thursday, February 21 in the Allnutt Drake Chapel at 2 p.m. with a celebration service held at 3 p.m. A reception will follow in the Allnutt Family Center. Private entombment will be at Grandview Cemetery.
And, in your own life, take time to smell the roses!
