Franklin Dagley

Franklin Gerard Dagley

October 1, 1940 – December 6, 2020

Franklin Gerard Dagley passed away on December 6, 2020 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction after fighting COVID-19 for five long weeks.

Frank was born in San Francisco, CA on October 1, 1940 to Ira H. Dagley and Lillian E. Dagley Hallbrook.  The family then moved to Cleveland, Arkansas where Frank grew up with his brother, Norman (d. 2018), and sister, Irais.  The family then moved to Montrose, Colorado after the death of Ira.  Frank graduated from Montrose High School in 1959 and eventually worked at the hospital in Montrose where he met Mary Rackley, a nurse also working there.  They married in 1968 and moved to Grand Junction where Frank began attending Mesa College and eventually graduated with a degree in Computer Programming in 1970.  A few years later, Frank began working at Mesa State College in Data Processing and retired thirty years to the date he started working there.

Frank and Mary had four children, Kelly, Kristy, Andrew, and Sarah that they raised in Grand Junction.  The family was very involved at Northeast Christian Church and loved spending time at Camp Christian in New Castle.  As a family they enjoyed taking many a road trip for vacation, watching football, and having dinner together every night.  Frank was widowed when Mary died in 1995 in a car accident.

After spending several years as a bachelor, Frank married Janice McDaniel in 2004.  They enjoyed serving together at church, four wheel driving in the mountains, and were frequent attenders of a cowboy poetry festival in Wyoming.  Frank became the Seniors’ Pastor at NECC with Jan helping him lead with her culinary and interpersonal skills.  They both loved fellowship around meals and worked hard to provide good food for gatherings.  Frank lovingly nursed Jan through health issues and she until passed in 2018.

Frank himself enjoyed serving in the church and had a servant’s heart.  His children remember accompanying him many times on visits to elderly people from the church where he fixed something for them.  Frank led in the church in various positions: deacon, trustee, elder, and eventual pastor.  He also went on several international mission trips to Mexico, Thailand, and Peru, and was involved in supporting and promoting Christian missions.  He loved God and God’s people.  Frank also loved the outdoors, spending time at the cabin, going four wheeling, hunting, and hiking.  He was an amateur auto mechanic whose favorite tools were duct tape and bailing wire.  Frank was also an intelligent man, an avid history buff, and fascinated by all forms of transportation.  Nobody could beat him at Trivial Pursuit. Pets were also a love of Frank’s, whether dog, cat, fish, or birds, he was the most loved human in the house by all the critters.  His friends and family could always count on Frank for a listening ear and a wise word.  Frank is survived by his children, Kelly Dagley, Kristy Stahl, Andrew Dagley, Sarah Dagley, his sister, Irais Barrett, son in law, Matthew Stahl, and grandchildren, Bethany Stahl, and Liam Franklin Stahl.  The family has held a graveside service and will have a larger memorial when it is safe to gather.

Frank enjoyed

Avid fan The Denver broncos

International Missions trips to serve – Mexico, Thailand, Peru

Servant’s Heart

Serving in his church NECC – trustee, elder, deacon, eventual pastor of seniors

Outdoors – four wheel driving, hunting, chopping wood, hiking

Part time auto mechanic whose favorite tools were duct tape and baling wire.

Avid history buff, and was fascinated by all forms of transportation.

Master of trivia – Nobody could beat him at trivial pursuit

Animal whisperer and bird feeder extraordinaire.  Love his pets.

Always had an open ear and would have a wise word.

Man of few words but gave wise counsel when he spoke.

Generous father and part time philanthropist

Raised in GJ,

NECC

Camping

Road trips Loved to take road trips dragging his kids across country

Spending time at camp Christian in New Castle

Having dinner every night together

Watching football

Working in a community garden

Children remember going with Dad to fix things at elderly people’s homes

Mary died in 1995

Frank married Jan – 2004 they enjoyed travel and serving in the church together.  Go to Cowboy poetry convention in Wyoming many times.  Became seniors pastor and with Jan provided meals for many people. Loved fellowship around food. Christian Student Fellowship ministry

Frank lovingly nursed Jan through health issues and she passed in 2018.