Frances Marian McConnell, 92, died January 17, 2017 at the Monte Vista Estates nursing home in Monte Vista.

Frances leaves her husband of 72 years, Roy McConnell, her daughters Cindy (Michael) Shoemaker, Suzanne (Richard) Benton, her sons Lloyd (Kayla) McConnell, Dwight (Lola) McConnell, ten grandchildren, and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Also, she is survived by her brother Monroe Mathias.

Born and raised in the San Luis Valley, the daughter of Bert and Ruth Mathias, she was a lifelong resident of the Sargent Community. She attended Sargent Schools and then graduated from Colorado C&S (which is now CSU) with a degree in Home Economics and Teaching. She married Roy McConnell on April 25, 1944. After college, she and Roy returned to the Valley to farm and to raise a family.

She was an avid community member, and served for years as an election judge, church board member, PEO member, substitute school teacher and school bus driver. Frances represented Colorado in the first National Extension Advisory Council and later became the national chairman of that group. She served on several advisory panels for the Secretary of Agriculture. Frances served on Extension advisory boards for CSU, and loved the demands and intricacies of these endeavors. She also enjoyed spending time with the Coffee Breakers group.

Frances was a dedicated member of the Sargent Community Church and has a quiet faith that was her grounding in life.

She will be remembered as a talented seamstress and quilter, and a long time 4-H leader and County Fair Judge. She was a voracious reader and had a tenaciousness that allowed her to excel in many endeavors. Frances enjoyed family and was always arranging for many Mathias and McConnell reunions. The more the merrier, the more she loved it.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday April 29, 2017 at the Sargent Community Church. Contributions are suggested to either the Sargent Community Church, 6985 County Road 2 East, Monte Vista, Colorado 81144 or to the Beaver Creek Youth Camp, 0885 County Road 20A, South Fork, CO 81154.

Rogers Family Mortuary of Monte Vista is in care of the arrangements. Online condolences, remarks and tributes may be made for Frances’ family by visiting her obituary at www.RogersFunerals.com