Obituary of Catherine Frank

Catherine J. "Cathy" Frank, 91, of Boulder, died Sunday, April 14, 2013 at her residence at Frasier Meadows Manor in Boulder. A Celebration of Cathy's Life will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 27th, 2013 at Frasier Meadows 4th Floor Phillips Chapel 350 Ponca Place, Boulder. A reception will follow the service in the Sky Lounge on the 5th Floor. Cathy was born on June 29, 1921, in Ree Heights, SD to Ernest & Jessie (Scott) Suhn. She grew up on a farm and could recall the dust bowl days of the 1930's. After graduating from high school she attended Yankton College in Yankton, SD and received a teaching certificate. Cathy taught 3rd and 4th grade in Harold, SD for a year before moving to Baytown, TX. In Texas she attended the area junior college and worked for 2 years in the Treasury Department for Humble Oil Co. in Houston, TX. Cathy then moved to Colorado to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder where she also met her future husband, Wayne C. Frank. Cathy and Wayne were married on January 28, 1946, in Vallejo, CA. Cathy then received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Home Economics in 1948. Cathy's professional career was mainly devoted to housing for the aging population. Through her affiliation with First Christian Church of Boulder she assisted in developing Golden West Manor, a senior housing facility in Boulder. As the facility administrator for 27 years, she became active in state, regional and national committees. She served as the President of the Colorado Homes and Services for the Aging for 2 years, spent a total of 12 years serving on the House of Delegates of the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) and served on various national committees as well. For her contributions, she received many awards, including, in 1980, the Distinguished Service Award from the Denver Regional Council of Governments; in 1986, the Colorado Distinguished Pioneer in Gerontology from the Colorado Gerontological Society; and in 1990 was one of three individuals in the United States awarded a Regional Meritorious Service Award by AAHSA for "Outstanding Service in the Cause of the Elderly". Cathy retired in 1990. After her professional retirement, Cathy remained busy with sports, travel, volunteer work, her children, grandchildren and great-grandson. She was a long-time member and officer of Buffalo Belles, was a volunteer and officer of the Boulder Community Hospital Auxiliary and served in many volunteer roles after moving to Frasier Meadows Manor with her husband. At Frasier Meadows she served as a member of the Admission and Public Affairs Committees, a Chairperson of the Resident Relations and Quality Assurance Committees and as a Resident Trustee of the Frasier Board of Trustees. She is survived by her son Bruce Frank (Kathy) of Arvada, CO; 2 daughters, Mary McKeehan (Don) of Pagosa Springs, CO and Diane Kasler (Jim) of Casper, WY; 6 grandchildren and 1 great-grandson. Memorial contributions may be made to the University of Colorado Foundation (designate Buffalo Belles or CU Athletics), 4740 Walnut St. Boulder, CO 80301 (http://www.cufund.org/); TRU Community Care (Hospice), 2594 Trailridge Drive East, Lafayette, CO 80026 (http://www.trucare.org/); Frasier Meadows Retirement Community, 350 Ponca Place, Boulder, CO 80303 (http://www.frasiermeadows.org/); Golden West Foundation, 1055 Adams Circle, Boulder, CO 80303 (http://www.gwboulder.org/).