Frances Booth Howard

Frances Booth Howard went to be with her Lord on July 3, 2010. Fran was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 28, 1923 to Frank and Edith Booth. She graduated from Smith College, earned a Masters degree from the Yale School of Nursing and practiced public health nursing in both Connecticut and Chicago. While attending Yale, she met Robert C. Howard of Creede, Colorado who was completing his medical degree there. They married December 17, 1949 in Larchmont, New York. After short stints in Chicago Robb's residency, Leadville and Denver, Colorado and Pirmasens, Germany, they settled in Englewood where they raised their four children. While in Englewood, Fran was a member of the Wellshire Presbyterian Church and was deeply involved in her children's school activities, scouts, sports and music. Later, she devoted her energy to community activities. She was active in the League of Women Voters and served on the Englewood Parks and Recreation Commission, playing an instrumental role in the development of the Englewood Golf Course. After Robb's death in 1987, Fran moved to Fort Collins where she formed a community of friends and met her best friend and companion, George Stager. Together, she and George enjoyed their growing families, golf, opera, and bridge. They traveled the United States, Russia, Germany and Italy and participated in many Elderhostel and Yale Alumni educational programs.
Fran was a member of the Harmony Presbyterian Church and later First Presbyterian Church where she treasured the friendship and support of her spiritual study group with which she met weekly. Fran was an avid camper and loved flowers, birds and the Colorado mountains, especially the Taylor River area near Gunnison where the family eventually built a get-away home. In her last years, Fran and her family were blessed with the compassion and companionship of a fabulous team of caregivers, who walked steadfastly with her through both shadow and joy. We thank each of them from the bottom of our hearts. We also wish to thank the staff of Pathways Hospice whose extraordinary expertise and humanity comforted and guided all of us through Fran's final days. Fran is survived by her children, Bill Katherine Zellerbach of Sierra Vista, Arizona, Steve Dell of Fort Collins, Colorado, Cathy Kevin Finn of Fort Collins and Beth Ann Russ Charif of Ithaca, New York; her sisters Mary Johnson of Ithaca, New York and Noel Brothers of Lake George, New York; her cousin Joan Cresap of Rye, New York; 10 grandchildren, one great-grandchild; and her best friends George Stager and Crosby, her much-loved cat. A Celebration of Fran's life will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 531 South College Avenue, at 10:00 am on Thursday, July 8, 2010. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Food Bank of Larimer County, the Rocky Mountain Nature Association, or Pathways Hospice for Northern Colorado in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 West Olive Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524.