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Frances Neoma Pierce Westhoff Baker
September 22, 1926 – August 27, 2021
Frances was born in Fontana, CA to Raymond and Marian Pierce on September 22, 1926. She had a younger sister, Shirley, who died at age 7, leaving Frances an only child. As a child, Frances enjoyed music and playing the violin. Her father worked on various construction jobs during the Great Depression, so Frances spent her childhood years traveling around the country. She lived in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Ohio, and Colorado. She graduated from Westwood High School in Denver. During WWII, while going to school in Denver, she worked as a machinist making parts for airplanes to help with the war effort. She volunteered at the local USO, and there she met Edwin Westhoff, who was to become her husband. She had to quit her USO volunteer job because she couldn’t date a serviceman if she worked there. They were married on May 1, 1946 in Ft. Morgan, CO.
Edwin was a dry land wheat farmer in Wiggins, CO. He and Frances started off married life in a home-built trailer house on the farm. They had a bountiful harvest that first year and were able to build a two-story house. They worked together over the years making the farm a success and raising a large family of twelve children. While keeping the farm, they moved their primary residence to Boulder and then Sterling, so their children could attend Catholic schools. In 1967, they moved to Glenwood Springs so Edwin could be closer to his favorite fishing spots. While living in tents, the family worked together to build a house on a mesa outside of Glenwood Springs. The mesa was originally homesteaded by Frances’ grandparents in 1916, and Frances and Edwin enjoyed living with a view of the mountains out every window. Edwin died May 9, 1973, leaving Frances with six children still at home to raise.
Shortly after Edwin’s death, Frances’ health concerns prompted her to move to Nogales, Arizona, which had a lower altitude and warmer climate. There, she was a school board member for the small school that her children attended. In 1977, she moved to Tucson, AZ so her children could go to schools with more opportunities. She also took classes in computers at Pima Community College.
On April 5, 1978 she married Bonner Z. Baker, a long time family friend, in Tucson, AZ. They had many happy years together as the younger children grew and went on to make their way in the world. In 1985, Frances and Bonner moved to Grand Junction, CO to be closer to Frances’ children, many of whom lived in Colorado. Frances enjoyed building homes, and she built her sixth and final one in 1990 on the edge of the Gunnison River. One of Frances’ favorite things was "piles of lumber because it meant something was going on." When the final home was finished, she and Bonner “moved in and stayed put.”
Bonner’s death on January 18, 1999 left Frances on her own for the first time in her adult life. She took the opportunity to travel to Greece, Spain, Ireland, Russia, Kwajalein, Hawaii and many other places with family and friends. She loved seeing new places and meeting new people. As she struggled with the infirmities of old age, the hardest thing to give up was the freedom to travel as she pleased.
The most important thing in Frances’ life was her family. As a child, she felt so alone after her sister died. One of the reasons she chose to have a large family was that she never wanted to feel alone again. She raised her children to be people who make the world a better place. She showed her gratitude by always
saying thank you. Frances Neoma Pierce Westhoff Baker died at home on August 27, 2021 with two of her children by her side. She was 94.
Frances is preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Marian Pierce; sister, Shirley Pierce; husband, Edwin Westhoff; second husband, Bonner Z. Baker; son, Steven Westhoff; grandchildren, Amber Westhoff, Teresa Kistler; and great-grandson, Bryan Westhoff.
She is survived by her children, Mary Cahill (Marty) of Wheat Ridge, CO; Joe Westhoff (Vicki) of Wiggins, CO; Mike Westhoff (Janet) of Silt, CO; Pat Westhoff (Carrie) of Greeley, CO; Cathy Foster (Kent) of Grand Junction, CO; Teresa Westhoff (Jack French) of Tucson, AZ; Tom Westhoff (Tracey) of Glenwood Springs, CO; Alice Kistler (Chuck) of Hayden, CO; Rich Westhoff (Cindy) of Hudson, NH; Paul Westhoff (Lori) of Glenwood Springs, CO, and Andy Westhoff of Glenwood Springs, CO. She is also survived by 27 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
Thanks to HopeWest who helped the family with Frances’ eight-month journey with at-home hospice care. Frances wanted to stay in her home, and HopeWest made that possible.
Rosary will be held Thursday, September 16 at Callahan- Edfast Mortuary in Grand Junction, CO at 7 PM. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Grand Junction, CO on Friday, September 17 at 11 AM. The family requests attendees socially distance and wear masks to protect Frances’ unvaccinated grand children and great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Catholic Outreach, 245 South 1st St., Grand Junction, CO 81501 or HopeWest, 3090 North 12th St., Grand Junction, CO 81501.
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