Frances Swerer Ellinwood

Frances S. Ellinwood passed away peacefully on Thursday, February 27th, 2025, at 98 and a half.

Frances, or "Frannie" to everyone who knew and loved her, was born to Frank and Betty Swerer in Denver, Colorado, on August 5th, 1926. She grew up near Capital Hill along with her younger brother, Bob, and younger sister, Helen, and her many friends. She graduated from East High School and went on to graduate from Colorado College in Colorado Springs with a Bachelor of Science in Geology, where she met and fell in love with L. Edward "Eddie" Ellinwood. During the summer, they both worked on Pikes Peak - she in the gift shop and he as a tour driver. In 1949, after graduation and the ending of World War II, she and Eddie married. A few years after Ed graduated from medical school, she and Eddie, and their five children lived a short time in Telluride, Colorado, then moved in 1958 to a remote uranium mining town called Uravan in southwest Colorado. Uravan was instrumental in the supply of uranium for the "Manhattan Project" that built the Atomic Bomb. After six years in Uravan, Frannie and family moved to Grand Junction, Colorado in 1964, where she built a new life and where she lived in the same house for sixty-one years. Enduring the depression and a world war in their younger years, Frannie and Eddie were two of the best of what is known as the "Greatest Generation".

Frannie's many friends, and even people who don't know her well, knew she was very special. A little over five feet tall, Frannie had a heart larger than life. You would never hear a harsh comment from her about anyone or to anyone. She had a sincere interest in people. Humble in all her ways, she would listen unconditionally to anyone about anything and rarely speak of herself. People would travel long distances to sit with Frannie at her kitchen table, knowing they would have her undying attention for hours and hours.

Whether climbing mountain peaks, skiing the many ski areas, crossing wilderness areas on horseback in the Colorado high country, or strolling the beautiful beaches in Hawaii, she was always looking for the next adventure. Adventuresome as she was, Frannie was also a tremendous athlete. She loved tennis, and tennis was her game. She played most of her life and was a formidable opponent on the court to anyone who dared challenge her. Over the years, Frannie was active in many organizations and clubs. Three of her favorites were P.E.O (Philanthropic Educational Organization), St. Mary's Auxiliary, and her beloved bridge club, where she played with her friends spanning sixty years.

She was known as "Gammy" to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They all loved her and could hardly wait to visit and stay at Gammy's house. She is survived by thirteen grand children, twelve great-grandchildren, and her five children: William of Grand Junction, Colorado; Steven of San Ramon, California; Sharon of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Peter of Grand Junction, Colorado; and David of Loma, Colorado.

Although very small in size, Frannie, or "Gammy," was larger than life. She will be remembered for her kind and caring soul. She was "The Listener." Frannie will live on in the hearts and minds of all who knew and loved her. She will be forever missed. At her request, there will be no service. Donations in her memory may be made to HopeWest or the Ed and Frannie Ellinwood Fund at Western Colorado Community Foundation.