Francine Neal

Francine E. (Hopkins) Neal May 25, 1922 - March 8, 2016 Francine was born to Nicholas Heber and Velma Lavina Hopkins in Boardman, Oregon. Francine’s siblings were LaVaghn H, Ezra and Viola M. Her parents leased a small farm in Hotchkiss, Colorado and settled there when Francine was about 2 yrs. old. After High School in Hotchkiss, Francine married Elmer C. Neal from Paonia. Elmer enlisted in the Army and Francine decided to visit her sister Viola in Hawthorne, California while waiting for Elmer to return from the war. It was there that Francine found a job in manufacturing. She became one of many as history has named this group of women employees “Rosie Riveter.” Francine did look like the commercial photos of Rosie, but I don’t know where the family pictures of her at that time are now. Later, she returned to Hotchkiss to stay with her mother for awhile until Elmer returned from the war. Francine & Elmer leased a dairy farm in Granby, Colorado. Elmer built a two bedroom home on top of a large hill overlooking the town of Granby. They had two children; Ronald C. and Betty Louise. They lost Betty at age 2. Francine worked as a waitress many years. Later, she became a telephone operator and worked for Mountain Bell Telephone & Telegraph Co. in Granby. She retired from the phone company after 22 years of service. She transferred to Denver to the complete her last two years, as the phone company in Granby closed. Later she & Elmer moved here to Grand Junction. After Elmer passed away in the early 1990’s she lived in Clifton for awhile. Her sister moved to Joplin, Missouri and Francine decided to join her to help Viola get settled there. Two years later Francine returned to Kremmling, Colorado and resided in a Senior Residence there. In 2001 Francine returned to this area and lived at Heaven’s View in Delta. She lived there a little over 10 years. Her health failed and she became a permanent resident at Horizon’s Community Health Care in January of 2012. I am her sister Viola’s daughter. I was less than six months old when Francine worked as Rosie Riveter in California. So, Francine met me when I was far too young to remember. However, we moved to Granby when I was 15 yrs. old and that became my reference point of meeting and knowing my aunt Francine for the first time I recollect. We just hit if off very well from the beginning. Francine was the typical aunt that has a lot of fun with nephews and nieces but rarely scolds or imposes restrictions like parents do. When we did something wrong, Francine cared enough to explain our actions, how they affected others and how we could make amends. I followed her advice and discovered she was very wise. She was fun and a joy to be around. Although she was not a writer per se, she knew how to explain life’s good and bad experiences to us. Listening to her relate stories and offer advice was just like reading a book with a beginning, a middle and an ending. She gained a new set of friends who came to know and love her at Horizon’s in Eckert, Colorado. So many of the staff enjoyed talking to her and doing special things for her, just because they wanted to. As her time to leave us drew closer, I felt their willingness to serve and assist Francine was so sincere, I felt just as comfortable as we feel when we are around family. And indeed, we were family. Although Francine would have preferred to live independently on her own elsewhere, shortly after she became a permanent resident at Horizon’s, when she was very ill and confused, she said this: I am so confused about what is happening to me right now, but I feel very safe here right now. I want you all at Horizon’s to know this. She really liked all of you at Horizon’s. I thank you for your help, service, friendship and love for my aunt Francine. Love, Francine Neal & Sharon Riggen