Frances Laverne Rhoades

She is survived by her children: Janis Johnson (Mervyn), Douglas Rhoades (Debbie), Mark Rhoades, and Paul Rhoades (Nancy), along with many beloved grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of many years, Donald Rhoades.

Frances always considered herself a Texas girl and carried fond memories of growing up on a farm with her parents and siblings. She married Donald Rhoades in October 1946 and graduated from Perrin High School in 1947.

After many years in Casper, Wyoming, Frances worked in the family accounting business before joining KN Energy. She relocated to Longmont, Colorado in 2004, where she built a rich and full life.

Frances was a deeply artistic person. In her later years she focused on china painting, and also created oil and acrylic paintings, quilts, and sewn works. She was an avid gardener, enormously proud of her yard, and loved pointing out whichever roses, daisies, or delphiniums were in bloom.

Above all, Frances loved being with family and staying connected to the lives of the people she cared about. In Longmont, she became a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, the Northern Colorado China Painting Guild, the Swimbabes water aerobics program at the Rec Center, and Weight Watchers, where she quickly built a wide circle of friends and neighbors.

She will be deeply missed.

A memorial service will be held at Ahlberg Funeral Chapel on Saturday, May 23, at 1:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church or the Northern Colorado China Painters Association.