1934 - 2022
Clara Florence Yates was born in Hotchkiss, Colorado, on April 4, 1934, to Benjamin Patrick Yates and Gloria Pauline Montoya. She was the youngest of 7 children. Her father passed away when she was four years old, and her mother, Polly (as she was known) was left to raise 7 children during the Great Depression. Florence learned the value of hard work at an early age, cleaning houses and ironing clothes for people in town, and also assisting her mother as a cook at the local hospital.
Florence moved to Rangely, Colorado in 1948 to live with her sister, and while living in Rangely she met her future husband, Donald Odell Rooks. They were married on November 4, 1951, in the Rangely chapel of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Their marriage was later solemnized in the Salt Lake Temple.
Florence was baptized a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and was active in the church throughout the rest of her life. She held many callings, including in the Young Women’s program, Primary, Sunday School, and was an early-morning Seminary teacher. The students all loved her because she was “cool.” She was instrumental in introducing many of her friends and family to the Gospel.
Florence had a very outgoing personality, and made friends whenever she went, and was always the “life of the party.” She had a great sense of humor and is often quoted by her children and grandchildren. For example, she would be driving down the road and would see an old farmhouse, honk the horn, and say, “Hey kids, wave to your Aunt Cora!”
Florence was the mother of three children, Donald Rooks, Jr. (Eileen), residing in Salt Lake City, Utah; Dana Kay Bean (Keith), from Omaha, Nebraska, and Elizabeth Ann Priest (Jeff), of Bakersfield, California.
Florence assisted her husband Don for 60+ years in running a local service station and oil distribution company, starting first as a Frontier station, then a Husky station, and finally as a Sinclair station. They were honored on several occasions for having the cleanest facility in the nation. Being active in many civic affairs, they were honored as Grand Marshalls of the parade at annual September Fest in Rangely.
Florence was preceded in death by both her parents; her husband, Don; a grandson, A.J. Rooks; a Son-in-Law, Steve Peel; 5 sisters and 1 brother. After Don passed away in 2012, Florence moved to Omaha, Nebraska to be closer to family. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on December 23, 2022.
Funeral services will be held for Florence on Saturday, January 14, 2023, at 11:00 AM at Braman Mortuary, 6505 S. 144th Street, Omaha, Nebraska, with family greeting friends and visitors one hour prior to the service. A graveside service will be held at a later date, with internment being next to her loving husband in the Rangely cemetery, Rangely, Colorado.
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