Frances Miera-Montez will celebrate 105 years of life on December 3rd, and every day of her life, Frances has been a Lady. Now, there are ladies and, there are ladies. Frances comes from the period in time when women wore dresses, hats and gloves, as well as, dress shoes with nylon stockings. As a child, she wore dresses and ribbons in her long hair.
Frances was born on December 3, 1905 in Clayton, New México to Emilia Gonzales and Serapio Miera.
Growing up, Frances was protected from the outside world by a strict father and Frances knew nothing of an outside social life except for family gatherings. Finally, when Frances was 24 years old, she was allowed to attend chaperoned dances and that is where she met her future husband José A. Montez. The attraction was mutual between the two and the following year on July 12, 1930, Frances and José were married.
José was 10 years older than Frances when they married. He was a Veteran of World War I and after they married, he worked for the Railroad and other side jobs until they moved to Denver, Colorado in 1932. José started working for the Work Program of America, (WPA) and together, they were able to buy a house at 1930 West Holden Place in West Denver. They paid $800 for the three room house which had no inside bathroom facilities.
Frances became the “Lady” of the house and had five children in rapid succession. Leonard was the oldest child born May 16, 1931; Joe, April 30, 1932; Connie, March 16, 1934; Gloria, December 29, 1935; and Theresa, March 18, 1937.
Frances had been married only eight short years when she became a widow. Her husband José was killed in a tragic accident in 1938.
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