Grace Louise (Francis) Niederer

Grace Louise (Francis) Niederer JACKSON - Grace Louise (Francis) Niederer died Monday, May 19, 2008, at St. John's Living Center. She had moved there after she broke her femur in a fall and a short stay in hospice care. She was born April 26, 1921, in Hershey, Neb. to Arnold and Emma Francis. She attended Hershey High School and graduated in 1939. She worked in Colorado and Kansas prior to meeting Arlo Idon Niederer. After a courtship of only a week, they were married on June 10, 1945, in Phillipsbury, Kan. She lived in numerous places while her husband finished his term in the Army Air Corps and attended college. They moved from Greely, Colo., to Rock Springs, where they lived for more than 50 years. She was involved in many community activities in Rock Springs and was the deputy director of Sweetwater County Civil Defense for many years. She was also active in PTA and served in many leadership positions, which culminated in an award of life membership of the National Congress of Parents and Teachers, the highest award for PTA. After the death of her husband in 1984, Mrs. Niederer remained busy and made many trips in her motor home. She was the president of the Sweetwater County Firehole Gang chapter of the Good Sam's Club. In addition, she served as the state treasurer and historian for Wyoming Good Sam. She won the grand champion prize of the. Sweetwater County Fair for one of many quilts she made for her children and grandchildren. She moved to Jackson in 2005 because of deteriorating eyesight, and was a resident of River Rock Lodge in Jackson, Wyoming where she served as president of the resident council. Her interests included cooking, gardening, being a seasonal decorator and traveling . She is survived by her daughters, Kathie Pivik of Evansville and Karen Bunt of Brighton, Colo.; son, Arlo F. Niederer of Jackson; six grandchildren, Katrina Pivik, Robby Pivik:, James Pivik:, Julie Yedinak, Rachel Niederer and Derek Niederer; five great-grandchildren, Scott Pivik:, Kayla Pivik:, Brittany Pivik:, Cayden Nigh and Tyler Phillips; and one great-greatgrandson, Aidan Gonzalez. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arlo I. Niederer; and a grandson, Scott Pivik. Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, May 23, 2008, at Shepard of the Mountains Lutheran church in Jackson. An additional viewing will be held 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm on Saturday, May 24, 2008, at Fox Funeral Home, 2800 Commercial Way, Rock Springs. Burial will follow in the Paul J. Wataha Section of the Rock Springs Municipal Cemetery in Rock Springs.