Cecil Francis Summers

Cecil Francis Summers, 92, passed away August 31, 2012, at Poudre Valley Hospital. Born in Wilson, Kansas, August 14, 1920, to James and Laura Ware Summers, Cecil spent his youth in western Kansas until the family moved to the eastern plains of Colorado in the 1930s. It was in Eads, Colorado, that he met Lola Clark, and the young couple secretly married in Sharon Springs, Kansas, in 1940. They would celebrate 65 years of marriage before Lola's death in 2006. Cecil joined the U.S. Navy in 1943, serving for 18 months on Tinian Island during World War II. He was discharged in 1946 and returned to civilian life with Lola and then 1-year-old son, Jerry, in Eads, Colorado. In 1948, the couple moved to Fort Collins, where they started an automotive repair business south of town on Hwy. 287. Summers Auto Repair began at that time and has since moved through three locations and three generations of Summers, subsequently owned/operated by Cecil's son, Jerry, and today, by grandson, Gary. Granddaughter, Jill, also currently works with the family business. After his retirement from the auto repair business in 1973, Cecil started a carpet cleaning business, and then fully retired in 1980. He was a longtime member of the Elks Club, the Moose Lodge, and the Amateur Trapshooters Association. Never an idle man, Cecil was an avid hunter, fisherman, and trapper. Children and grandchildren inherited their passion for the outdoors through spending many family vacations at Cecil and Lola's Buckhorn Canyon cabin in the 70s and 80s. Cecil was a competitive trapshooter for several years, participating in meets across the country with family. He and Lola enjoyed their travels to Alaska, Hawaii, Jamaica, Las Vegas, and Florida, among other places, during their lifetime together. Woodworking, bird carving, and crocheting were other hobbies. Cecil created and generously gifted many pieces of furniture, art, and crocheted items to family and friends. Both of his grandchildren have genuine grandfather clocks that he crafted. He loved sports of all kinds, and was rarely misinformed of the picks or point spreads. Cecil is survived by a sister, Edrie Oster, Hugo, CO.; son, Jerry Pat Summers of Fort Collins; daughter, Janice Summers of San Pedro, California; grandson, Gary Summers; granddaughter, Jill Doug Mann; great granddaughters, Courtney Mann and Amanda Summers; great grandson, Spencer Summers, and great great granddaughter, Kenna Mann Hutchinson, all of the Fort Collins area; long-time loyal friends, Warren and Teresa Baxter and family of Fort Collins; and close friend, Gerri Ridnour. The family wishes to thank the caring staff at the Residence at Oakridge Assisted Living for their kind and special attention to Cecil throughout his tenure there. A Memorial Service will be held in Cecil's honor with Pastor Paul McGraw officiating at the Fort Collins BPO Elks #804, 1424 E Mulberry Street, on Friday, September 14, 2012 at 3:30 p.m. Contributions to Pathways Hospice or the Alzheimer's Foundation may be made in Cecil's name, in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 West Olive, Fort Collins, Colorado, 80524.