Marie Frakes

Marie Frakes, 76, of Bayard, died Friday, December 3, 2004 at Regional West Medical Center in Scottsbluff. A memorial service will be held 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 7, 2004 at First Assembly of God Church in Scottsbluff with Pastor Amos Harris officiating. Inurnment will be in the Bayard Cemetery. Marie was born November 28, 1928 in Sterling, CO to Peter and Marie (Wagner) Tribelhorn. She grew up on the family farm and received her education in Sterling. He father, Peter, died in February of 1946 before she graduated in May of the same year. She and her mother, Marie, moved to Bayard to be near her maternal grandparents. Her mother died in April, 1964. Marie married Robert D. Frakes in Bayard. She had four children, Keith, Kevin, Kurt and a daughter Bobbie Dee who died shortly after her birth. During their life together she had time to do altering and tailoring for ten years and was a tax consultant for thirteen years. In 1972-73 she became president of the West Nebraska Art Guild, she also was the editor of the Guild’s newsletter, Scratch Pad, for a year. She entered several art shows winning second prize at a five state art show and several lesser awards at mini and state competitions. She was published in the Business and Community leaders 1974 edition. Dale Carnegie sales course was another of her accomplishments. She became certified in flower shop management and floral design. She also did assembly work for D & A Manufacturing, as well as teaching classed in upholstering and business machines for West Nebraska Community College. She spent five years as curator of the mobile museum at Chimney Rock for the Nebraska Historical Society. During that time Marie was made a honorary station master for the Pony Express Station. Marie also spent five years working for the US Post Office. During the last year she worked dispatch in the Scottsbluff office. After her husband Bob died she resigned from her Post Office job and went to Albuquerque to attend the New Mexico School of Natural Therapeutics. She graduated in 1984 and passed the Nebraska State Boards in massage therapy. She ran her massage therapy practice out of her home for six months, then opened an office in Scottsbluff where she worked until retiring at noon on December 24, 1998. She received additional training through Continuing Education about Fibromyalgia and became a practitioner for the New Physiology Institute, graduating in May 1990. Marie was a certified Bach Flower counselor and attained the second level in Upledger cranial sacral training. She also taught two classes of massage therapy for Western Nebraska Community College. Having three boys meant she spent 25 years associatied with Cub and Boy scouts, from den mother to advisory board member. She also spent 16 years with the American Red Cross as a Service to Military Families volunteer. She was a member of the Apostolic Faith Church in which she held various positions from Christmas tree decorator to superintendent. At one time she wa a member fothe Legion Auxiliary and a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers and as well as serving on the Board of the Senior Center in 2000. Preceding her in death were her husband Robert; infant daughter Bobbie Dee; parents Peter and Marie Tribelhorn; six half brothers and two half sisters; brothers Paul Tribelhorn and Victor Tribelhorn; and sisters Clara Young and Rose Crabil. Surviving her are three sons and their spouses, Dr. Keith and Lynne Frakes of Seale, Alabama; Kevin D. and Jessica Frakes of Minneapolis, MN; and Kurt R. and Lanette Frakes of Denver, Co. Additional survivors include grandson, Greg Frakes, Denver, CO, granddaughter, Susan Frakes of Panama City Beach, FL; sister, Helen Campen of Sterling, CO and several special nieces and nephews, as well as her dear friend Margaret McCormick.