Frances Best

Frances Jean Saunders Best died Thursday, April 3, 2008 in Fort Collins, Colorado. She was born October 10, 1916 in Liberty, Missouri to Frank W. Saunders and Georgia Anna Sheets Saunders. She married Willis H. Best on August 2, 1940 in Liberty, Missouri. He died in 2001. She received her BA degree from William Jewell College in Liberty, MO; her MA degree from Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado and did additional graduate work at Stanford University and Colorado State University. She was also a graduate of Kansas City Business College. She was a member of Beta Lambda; Alpha Phi Sigma; National Biology Society; and the American Guild of Organists. She also graduated class valediatorian. She was an Associate Professor for 19 years primarily at Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Colorado, and during her teaching career, she served as Vice-President of the College English Professors Association. She was also a Church Organist for 50 years. Additionally, in her earlier years she was a Kaplivator orchestra pianist in the Kansas City Area. In recent years, she played the piano for the Senior Harmonettes, who regularly visit many local Fort Collins nursing homes. She also played the piano for the Aspen Club at their monthly dinner meetings at Poudre Valley Hospital for a number of years. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband. She is survived by her daughter, Analene Best Carlisle and her special friend, Roger Cox, and numerous other friends. An open house with refreshments to celebrate her life will be held at the Adriel Hills Clubhouse on Saturday, April 12th from 12:00 to 4:00pm.