Frances Irene Clapper

father Ellsworth, and two brothers, Ray and Lloyd, until she was married in 1948 to William (Bill)

Blacke.

From this marriage, four children were born Stephen, William, Reginald, and Suzanne. The

marriage ended in 1963. She remarried in 1968 to Paul Clapper, and had one more child, Julia.

They moved to Cedaredge in 1976, and had a small farm the “Bell Ringer Ranch”, where they

grew a big garden, had an orchard, and raised livestock.

Although she had some jobs outside of home, Fran was a homemaker for most of her life. She

enjoyed cooking, gardening, sewing and generally taking care of others. She brought many

people together at her table. She enjoyed entertaining in grand style using the “good dishes”,

fancy folded napkins and delicious, homemade food. Pies and canned pickled beets were two

of her specialties. She often would invite new people from church or single people home to join

in on Sunday dinners. Friends and family could often be found around the kitchen table playing

games.

Being a child of the Great Depression, she knew how to be thrifty and practical. She was

independent and spoke her mind, regardless of whose feathers it may have ruffled.

As a Christian, she said she was ready to go to heaven.

She made the decision to stop taking her medications, and passed away peacefully in her sleep

in the early morning of Jan. 29, 2022. She died as she had lived- on her own terms.

She was 92 years old, and will be deeply missed.

She is survived by three children Reggie (Patty) Blacke, Suzanne Schottel, and Julia (Scott)

Stockemer; 19 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. She was

preceded in death by her husband, Paul; and two sons, Billy and Steve Blacke.

A funeral service for Frances will be held Monday, February 7, 2022 at 1:00 PM at First Baptist Church, 370 W. Main Street, Cedaredge, Colorado 81413.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MartinMortuary.com for the Clapper family.