Florence May Orr

Florence May Orr, 97, passed away at the Poudre Valley Hospital in Ft. Collins, Colorado, on July 2, 2026, five days short of her 98th birthday. Florence was born in 1928 in Coalmont, CO to Anson Lafette Mahan and Effie Estella Chedsey Mahan. She graduated from Cache la Poudre High School in Laporte, CO in 1946, and in September of that year, she married Howard K. Orr of Bellvue, CO. They shared almost 72 years together prior to his death in 2018. Florence lived in Coalmont, Walden, and Laporte, Colorado during her youth; in Ephraim, Utah and Rapid City, South Dakota during their working years; and in Zapata, TX and Fort Collins, CO, for 35 years after retirement.

Florence and Howard raised their family in Rapid City, SD. Florence was an Avon representative in the Meadowbrook School area for many years. While she only earned a modest income from Avon sales, she was valued by her customers for being a great listener, confidant and counselor. She kept many secrets. Florence also worked for the Rapid City School lunch program, where she enjoyed laughs and hijinks with her fellow “lunch ladies.” Her warmth, wit, and great sense of humor will be missed by her family and friends.

Florence was a wonderful mother, grandmother, and homemaker. She had a knack for making anywhere she lived into a cozy, welcoming home. That talent extended to their pop-up tent camper, pull-behind camper, fifth-wheel camper, and motorized RVs (the normal progression of camping life.) She and Howard, “Ho & Flo,” enjoyed extensive travel and were snowbirds for many years at their second home in Zapata, TX, where they would meet up with their Colorado siblings.

Florence was preceded in death by her husband, her parents, an infant brother, and her two sisters. She is survived by her daughter, Andrea Yarger (Terry) of Hot Springs, South Dakota; son, Terry Orr of Ft. Collins, Colorado; and daughter, Becky Craig (Jim) of Cheyenne, Wyoming; plus 6 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. The family is especially grateful to Terry Orr for being Florence’s housemate and caregiver, when needed, in the final years of her life. 

Inurnment will be held at the Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins at a later date.