Frances Marie Hammond

FRANCES MARIE HAMMOND Memorial services for Cortez resident Frances Marie Hammond will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 5 at the Cortez United Methodist Church. Fran Hammond passed away January 27, 2011 at her home in Cortez from cancer following a brief illness. She was 87. Even though she lived in Cortez only eight years, her quiet friendliness, desire to contribute, and drive to experience all she could led her to many friendships in the community. Fran was born in Dayton, Ohio January 7, 1924 to Morris Stanton Miller and Gladys Bookwalter. She grew up in a farming family, attended college in Miamisburg, Ohio and occupational therapy school in Philadelphia. Upon completion she followed her spirit of adventure and moved to New Orleans where she met her husband, Dean Hammond. They lived in Kentucky, Wisconsin, Nebraska, and Colorado as Dean served in the Army and traveled through his career as a physician. They spent almost 40 years in Ogden, Utah before Dean passed away in 2000. She had one daughter, Sheryl Merritt, who now lives in Dolores. Fran was active in Girl Scouting and P.E.O. She loved golf, bowling, Bridge, crafts and gardening. After moving to Cortez, she jumped in with both feet, volunteering at the Methodist Thrift Shop and serving on church committees, participating in water aerobics, bowling leagues, golf and P.E.O. She organized social outings in the community including a Bridge club and dine out groups for church. She had a passion for butterflies, collecting butterfly stamps from around the world, categorizing them by genus species rather than by country. Fran is survived by her daughter, Sheryl Merritt (Ed) of Dolores; her grandchildren, Jason Merritt (Ashley) of Arvada, Colo., and Kylene Bruski (Tony) of Parker, Colo.; her great-grandchildren, Kiera and Triston Bruski; and her sister-in-law, Wanda Couch. Preceding her in death was her husband, Dean; her brother, James Miller; and her parents. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to First United Methodist Church of Cortez, the Cortez Cultural Center, or to Hospice of Montezuma.