Frances M. Cummins

Fran Cummins went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, February 19th 2019, due to complications of Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)-Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP), a form of peripheral neuropathy.

Fran was born at home on August 7th, 1935, to John and Elsie Kuper of Laurel, Montana. She was active in the Girl Scouts, 4-H and her "Young People" church group, and loved fishing and being with her 6 brothers and 5 sisters. After her father's death on Christmas Day in 1948, Fran and 7 of her siblings were taken to Mooseheart Child City, near Aurora, Illinois, where she lived until she graduated high school in 1953.

On November 27th 1956, Fran married the love of her life, Ernie, in Billings, Montana, on his parents' 32nd anniversary. They lived in Billings until 1959, then moved to Denver, Colorado; followed by Brigham City, Utah; then back to Billings. They settled in Lakewood, Colorado in 1966. Fran gave birth to daughter Christy in 1961 and son Cory in 1962.

Fran was a homemaker for several years, including taking care of many other children in the home, then worked in various positions at a court-reporting school, the kids' high school, and eventually for the U. S. government. In 2000, Fran and Ernie moved to Fort Collins, Colorado to be nearer to children and grandchildren. She enjoyed crafting, sewing and quilting, and joined several quilt groups. She loved playing games, was a wonderful cook, and always kept an immaculate home. Her gift of hospitality welcomed countless guests into their home. Fran and Ernie took several opportunities to travel around the United States and internationally to visit family, friends and explore the world. She loved people deeply. Everyone she met became instant friends, and friends became family.

Fran is survived by Ernie, her husband of 62 years, daughter Christy (Ralph) Zentz, son Cory Cummins, grandsons Adam (Elina) Zentz, Jared Zentz, Ryan and Thomas Cummins, granddaughter Sarah Cummins, great grandsons Jude and Ezra Zentz, and several brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, and their young ones.
Fran was preceded in death by her parents John Kuper and Elsie Milligan, brother Oliver Kuper, and granddaughter Erin Heather Zentz.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the GBS-CIDP Foundation International at https://www.gbs-cidp.org or to the charity of choice. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date for all the hundreds of friends and family whose life Fran so deeply touched. She will be greatly missed and loved. The family would like to acknowledge the tremendous outpouring of love, concern and get-well wishes during her lengthy hospitalization. We would especially like to thank the many dedicated care providers who took such great care of her at Poudre Valley Hospital, Northern Colorado Long Term Acute Hospital and Medical Center of the Rockies.