James Lewis Frantz

JAMES LEWIS FRANTZ James Lewis Frantz was born August 16, 1944 in Denver, Colo. to Marion Grace Lewis and passed away on September 19, 2015 at his home in Mancos, Colo. After the passing of his mother when he was six years old, Jim lived with various family members until finally being adopted by his grandmother, Amy Frantz and living with her until the age of 16 when he joined the Navy and served for four years. He was proud to have served his country and proud to be an American. While in the Navy, Jim earned his GED. In the early 1990's he was able to complete his high school courses, earning his high school diploma. Jim felt that was a great accomplishment in his life. As an adult, Jim was a professional truck driver with 25 of those years driving for City Market (the drivers were known over the road as the Rocky Mountain Bumblebees). He retired from City Market with special recognition for more than one million miles accident free. After retiring from City Market, Jim was self employed owning and driving his own semi for several years. In 1979, Jim married Susie Baker of Mancos, making their home in Grand Junction, Colo. until they moved to Mancos in 2007. They joined the Mancos Baptist Church where Jim faithfully served the God he loved, and was quick to thank God for his many blessings. During his time in Mancos, Jim also volunteered at the Senior Center delivering Meals on Wheels. He also worked delivering mail on a rural postal route. Jim was a very positive person and would always meet you with a smile. If you were to ask, "how are you feeling?", he would reply, "I'm fine" or "It's a beautiful day," rain, shine or snow. Jim loved Mancos and was happy to call it his home. One of his favorite sayings was, "If you are lucky enough to live in the mountains, you are lucky enough." Jim is survived by his wife of 35 years, Susie Frantz; a brother-in-law, Bob Baker of Phoenix, Ariz.; sisters-in-law and spouses, Peggy and Tommy Samora of Cortez, Colo., and Becky and Greg Klocker of Glade Park, Colo.; mother-in-law, Fay Baker of Mancos; also a number of nieces and nephews. Memorial contributions can be made in memory of James Lewis Frantz with Hospice of Montezuma, PO Box 740, Cortez, Colo. 81321.