Fran Smith

    Frances Kay (Alberts) Smith, of Holyoke, died during an unexpected stay at North Colorado Medical Center in Greeley on June 7, 2019, at the age of 71.
    Fran was born Jan. 8, 1948, to Chester Marvin and Hazel Lorene (Vogel) Alberts. After graduating from Holyoke High School, she moved to Denver to begin her adult life. She met and married James A. Smith, and they moved to Marion, Indiana, to begin their family.
    Daughter Wendi JaeLyn was born in 1969, and the family made the move back to the Denver area in 1974. They settled in Aurora, and it was there in 1979 that their son, Joshua Alexander, was born. The family moved back to Holyoke for an opportunity to own a local shop and then moved on to the Dallas, Texas, area in 1986.
    While in Texas, Fran began a 30-year career with the Texas Committee on Aging, beginning as an intake and Meals on Wheels volunteer and working her way to become one of the favorite front desk ladies. She enjoyed so much getting to know each client and their story and the help that she was able to offer through the agency. She was an integral part of their annual golf fundraiser and loved seeing the community pitch in for those elderly that were less fortunate.
    Fran enjoyed making her house a home and always had a big batch of iced tea and coffee cake ready to share. Fran loved to travel and enjoyed sightseeing, bringing home a magnet or knickknack from the various cities. She especially loved the town of Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, and the “high tea” ceremony there. She cherished most her Colorado mountains, so when it was time to retire, she chose to return not just to Colorado but to Holyoke, a place she knew well and called home.
    Fran is survived by her daughter, Wendi Smith, and her children Dillon James Cole and Morgan Wren Cole of Deltona, Florida; son, Joshua Smith and wife Jennifer of Waxahachie, Texas; sisters, Peggy Bennett and Linda and husband Mitchell Bly, all of Holyoke; brothers, Vern and wife Linda Alberts of Holyoke and Jim and wife Marlene Alberts of Loveland; and many loving nieces and nephews.
    She was preceded in death by her parents and sister, Lola Shull.
    The memorial service will be held Friday, June 14, at 10:30 a.m. at Baucke Funeral Chapel in Holyoke.
    Baucke Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.