Frances Ellen Grigg

Francie Ellen Grigg age 80 died recently in Denver surrounded by her loved ones. Francie and her twin brother, Forney Junior, were born in Billings MT in 1944. She graduated from Billings Senior High School in 1963. She married her first husband Fred Eggleston in 1967 and soon after moved to Germany where he was stationed as a crewman in the United States Air Force. Francie and Fred then moved to Bozeman, MT where he attended Montana State University. This is where they went on to have three children between 1971 and 1974. During their 25-year-long marriage they moved over 20 times. At each new location Francie was quick to set up a home, plant a flower garden and make friends. Although their marriage ended in divorce, she had fond memories of their time together and the bonds they shared in raising three children. In 1995, Francie moved to Kalispell, MT where she attended Flathead Community College and received her degree as a Certified Medical Assistant in 1999. Shortly thereafter she moved back to Denver to be closer to her many grandchildren. Francie had a chance encounter with a patient at the doctor’s office where she was working, which quickly led to courting and ultimately marriage. Joe Grigg and Francie married in 2005 and blended a family full of adult children and grandchildren. They were married for just under 20 years and lived in the same house in Lone Tree, CO until Joe’s passing in 2024. Francie loved and appreciated Joe for all the care and attention he gave her throughout their marriage and in her eyes and the eyes of her kids – Joe was a saint.

Francie loved being a grandmother even more than she loved being a mom. She would get down on the floor to play with her grandkids and was always eager to take them on their next adventure. She was excited to participate in a good conversation and enjoyed meeting new people. She made friends easily and was known for sitting on her porch and taking care of her flowers while visiting with the neighbors. When summer was over, she got to do her next favorite thing which was decorate her house for Christmas. When it came to the holidays, she believed anything worth doing was worth overdoing, which was demonstrated in her elaborate Christmas tree decorations. In Francie’s eyes, there was no such thing as too much tinsel. Francie loved to socialize and throw parties. She never missed a detail and always made everyone feel included. Any spare time Francie had, she could be found in her sewing room quilting while humming along to her favorite church hymns playing in the background. Her fondness for quilting helped her remain close to her mother through the years, as it was an activity that they both shared a passion for and had been passed down from generation to generation. She has passed on her love of music, decorating, quilting, hosting and gardening to her children.

Francie’s family would like to say a special thank you to all of the people that helped take care of her this past year whether they be neighbors, doctors, nurses, hospice workers or the many people at the retirement facilities, employees and residents, that took extra interest in her and what she needed.

• UC Health Anschutz Campus
• UC Health Highlands Ranch Hospital
• CU Medicine Lone Tree
• Parker Adventist Hospital
• Elevation Hospice
• Life Care Center at Stonegate
• Harvard Square Assisted Living
• Pine Grove Crossing Assisted Living
• Parkside Village Retirement Resort

Francie was preceded in death by her parents Forney Edward and Margie Hay, her twin brother Forney Edward Hay Jr. and sister Lynette Holmes.

She is survived by her two brothers Richard (Arla) Hay and Jonathan (Cathy) Hay, children Cindy Moores, Julie (Jason) Clark, Jay (Michelle) Eggleston, Joe (Cathy) Grigg Jr and Catherine Grigg. She also leaves fourteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.

We will profoundly miss this beautiful soul but we are comforted with the knowledge that she has been reunited with her beloved twin, parents and sister and she is no longer in pain. We rejoice in her memory and the love she bestowed so freely on all of us.

There will be two services held:

August 16th 10AM-12PM – Parkside Village Retirement Resort 14501 E Crestline Dr, Aurora CO 80015 (please wear bright colors)

September 15th – Billings MT (more details to follow)

In lieu of sending flowers to the family, please plant some in your garden and think of Francie. She was particular to geraniums, pansies, poppies and marigolds.