Longtime Montrose resident Gwendolyn Irene Frasier, age 88, passed away of natural causes at Montrose Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, March 13, 2012. Gwen was born in Pueblo, Colo., on Feb. 28, 1924. At the age of 5, she was adopted by her new parents, Roy and Lucile (Bowers) Guild, and moved in with her family in the Montrose area and spent her childhood here. After graduating from Montrose High School in 1942, she and Ralph Frasier married in Montrose on Dec. 27, 1942. Gwen worked for 30 years for the RE-1J school district as a cook and food service manager. She began her career as a cook at Maple Grove Elementary School, which her children attended. When Maple Grove Elementary School closed, she was a cook at several of the other schools in the district before being promoted to food service manager. As the food service manager, she over saw the school district's hot lunch program until she retired. She loved camping, snowmobiling, fishing and spending time outdoors with her family. Gwen was active in 4-H when her children were younger. After Ralph's death, she enjoyed traveling and camping with her family every summer to Washington state.

Gwen is survived by her daughters, Sandra (Bob) Wallace of Montrose and Betty (Bob) Taylor of Montrose; her grandchildren, Brian (Rose) Wallace of Milwaukee, Wisc., Brent (Tonia) Wallace of Montrose, Troy (Tammy) Wallace of Nucla, Kimberly (Mike Condit) Lee of Grand Junction, Tracy Frasier of Montrose, Terry Frasier of Denver and Donny Frasier of Grand Junction; her brother, Ralph (Patty) Guild of Denver; her brother-in-law, Harold (Betty) Frasier of Montrose; 15 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-granddaughter she welcomed one month ago. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Ralph Frasier in 2007; her son, Terry Frasier in 2000; her brothers Bill Lynch, Kenneth Guild and Bill Guild; and her brother-in-laws Delbert Frasier, and Lawrence Frasier.

Gwen was a loving and caring mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. She always had a smile for everyone she met and was willing to help anyone in need. Family and friends loved and respected her, and she will be greatly missed.

A funeral service for family and friends will be officiated by Don Barr on Saturday, March 17 at 11 a.m. at Valley Lawn Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Valley Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Gwen's honor may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Western Colorado, 645 S. Fifth St., Montrose, CO 81401.

Valley Lawn Funeral Home is in charge of the care and arrangements for Gwen and her family, 505 S. Second St. Montrose, CO 81401, (970) 249-4400.