Flora May Newberry

Flora May Newberry was born Flora May Vincent on March 9, 1928. Flora was born in the family home at 1548 West Byers Place Denver, Colorado. She lived there until she was married. Her parents were Frank Vincent and Harriet Wilma Baker Vincent. Her parents had seven children. Flora was the fifth child born to them. The other children were Adaline Ethel Vincent Carpenter. Wilma Marguerite Vincent Smith, Marjorie Nina Vincent Sanford, Doris Nellie Vincent Dolan, Juanita Ilene Vincent Bailey and Frank Richard Vincent. Her father, Frank, passed away April 1967 and Harriet passed away July 1996. Adaline passed away in 2000. Wilma passed away in 2014. Marjorie passed away in 2020. Flora passed away at Littleton Hospital on December 27, 2020. The rest of the children are still living.

Flora attended three schools in her lifetime. She attended Valverde Elementary, Baker Junior High and West High school. She graduated from West High School in 1946. Flora was in the top ten of her graduating class and was always a straight A student. She was a member of the National Honor Society and the Spur Club all four years of high school.

Flora’s first job was with the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States. She was required to go to an interview for her Stenographer Class as part of her class instruction. She went to the interview and was hired right on the spot. She was hired for this first job two weeks before she graduated and was excused from school for those two weeks. She was the only class member hired on the first interview. She was hired by H. Allen Nye as his secretary and stenographer. However, she also worked for the Cowan Unit and the Runner Unit and later became the receptionist and stenographer for the manager, Mr. Burney. Flora worked at Equitable until she got married.

Flora also worked at J.J. Newberry Store for a few years on Saturdays. Flora’s hobby was genealogy, since she was given a computer by Flora May and Brad in 2001, she was able to document more than 2,000 family members for Vincent and Newberry. Her daughter Crystal and her great grandson CeJay want to continue with her research of the family history.

Flora and Juanita belonged to the Carl C. Johnson Roller Club at Skateland for several years. They enjoyed the dance skating there. Flora worked in the office there doing typing and mimeographing for Skateland. Flora met the man she was to marry at Skateland. Frank had been skating before but had not been skating recently until about 1947. Flora met Frank when he began skating again in 1947 and became his skating partner. Frank S. Newberry and Flora May Newberry were married August 2, 1949. They were married by Harvey W. Potthoff at the Christ Methodist Church in Denver, Colorado. Then the Newberry family attended the Methodist Church in Littleton and they were baptized in the church.

Their first home was in a basement apartment on Bellaire. They moved to Littleton in January of 1950 where they have lived the rest of their lives. Frank had been an owner with his brothers at the Newberry Brothers Greenhouse in Denver, Colorado. He moved to Littleton purchasing the Courtright Greenhouse in 1950. Frank became the owner and operator of the Frank S. Newberry Greenhouse in Littleton. Frank and Flora lived in a home at the greenhouse for twenty nine years while he operated the greenhouse. Frank and Flora’s three daughters, Flora May Newberry Coleman, Linda Gail Newberry Clark and Crystal Elaine Newberry Cook were born and raised at the home and greenhouse. Flora always knew where her children were because all the neighbor children came to play with her girls. The Newberry’s had the only air-conditioned yard in the neighborhood in the summer. In the winter they had the hills for sledding. The Newberry girls all attended and graduated from Littleton schools. After closing the greenhouse and selling their land to the city of Littleton, Frank and Flora moved to their home on Costilla Street in Littleton which has been home ever since.

Flora baby-sat with at least 18 children from several families during the time they lived in Littleton. She also worked in the greenhouse with Frank during the time they operated the greenhouse. She took care of all of the personnel and financial information until the business closed. Flora worked for Dr. Earl S. Voight who is an optometrist when he went on vacation. When he returned she was asked if she would like the job permanently. She accepted, and she worked for Dr. Earl S. Voight in a one-girl office for twenty six years. Flora really enjoyed working for Dr. Voight as he was a very good boss and also a very good friend. He has a wonderful wife who is also a very good friend. Flora worked for Dr. Voight until he lost his lease and had to relocate. Then she worked for Dr. David Albert who was an orthodontist, for eight years. Flora enjoyed working. It appears that she did as she worked most of her life beginning at the age of eighteen.

Flora and Frank celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on August 2nd 2019. Her husband Frank, celebrated his 99th birthday on July 5th, 2019. Frank passed away on October 21st, 2019. He was at home and passed away peacefully with his loved ones at his side. Flora passed away peacefully at Littleton Hospital due to a major heart attack, because of COVID regulations no family members were able to be by her side. She was, however, not alone. Flora May Newberry Coleman went to the hospital and was the only visitor allowed to go in; she did get to visit with her, she was required to leave by hospital rule. In her final moments she was attended by a wonderful ICU charge nurse who was with her and held her hand, She wanted us all to know Flora was not alone.

Flora is a grandmother of five, including Hans Christian Coleman, Christian Ann Clark Valenti, Traci Lynn Clark Fox, and Laura Ann Cook. She has ten great grandchildren. The great grandchildren are CeJay William Power, Tyler Lee Power, Logan Alan Rautio, Jarod Quinn Valenti, Juliana Ariel Fox, Natasha Evangeline Raye McGhee, Carmela Coleman, Marcellus Bailey, Alexis Marie Richards and Kirk Cornell Hurd, Jr. Kirk passed away at the age of ten in 2006. Flora has a great great grandchild Braydon Richards and another boy, although she has never seen them and never will.

Flora has always been a family person. Family has been her whole life. If you can say anything about her, I guess it is that she has spent a life trying to be the best wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, daughter, sister and friend as she possibly could be. She left a legacy of love that will be cherished and never forgotten by family and all who were fortunate to meet and know her.

A note from Flora : “ I have always known that you reap what you sow. I feel that I have done everything in my power to be a good person. I loved my husband and my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren more than myself. (Although, to be loved you must love yourself, also. And I did.) I loved my husband with all my heart. We both felt this same way. We were a very faithful couple. Family has always been my whole life. I feel that it has paid off for me more than I could have ever imagined. My life has been so rich with love. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. I believe I have a very loving family, and I am so very proud of all of them. I believe I owe a lot of what I learned about living to my mother and father. My mother and father were loving people and taught us to be the same. I came from a loving family, and I believe we all love each other and respect each other. I hope I have instilled in my family to love and respect each other.”