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Emma Frances Coombe Grasky

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Emma Frances Coombe Grasky

Birth	:	1 Jan 1921 Miles City, Custer County, Montana, USA
Death	:	24 Jan 2015 Miles City, Custer County, Montana, USA
Burial	:	Custer County Cemetery, Miles City, Custer County, USA
Coordinate	:	46.3891983, -105.8264008
Description	:	Emma Frances Coombe was born to Edith and Fred at the Abbey Hospital in Miles City, Montana on January 1, 1921. She was followed into the world in quick succession by four additional sisters within the next five years: Inez, Freeda, Hilda and Evelyn. The Coombe family homesteaded on Home Creek near Ashland, Montana, then settled on a place on Ten Mile. There were no schools nearby, so Fred and neighboring men built the Willow Crossing School for the community’s children. Frances entered school in the third grade. The girls rode their horses to school, three on one horse and... Read More	Emma Frances Coombe was born to Edith and Fred at the Abbey Hospital in Miles City, Montana on January 1, 1921. She was followed into the world in quick succession by four additional sisters within the next five years: Inez, Freeda, Hilda and Evelyn. The Coombe family homesteaded on Home Creek near Ashland, Montana, then settled on a place on Ten Mile. There were no schools nearby, so Fred and neighboring men built the Willow Crossing School for the community’s children. Frances entered school in the third grade. The girls rode their horses to school, three on one horse and two on the other. With five girls in the family and no boys, helping with the chores on the ranch fell to the girls. Frances and sister Evie did most of the cowboying, helping herd cattle and other adventurous undertakings. For high school Frances attended St Labre Mission School where she worked for her room and board. She transferred to Custer County High School for her senior year, graduating in 1938. On the Fourth of July 1938 Frances began training at the Presentation School of Nursing in Miles City. Curfews and rules were strict and the courses were difficult, but she loved nursing. She graduated in 1941 and would maintain a relationship with Holy Rosary Hospital the rest of her life – over 76 years. She met Donald Cummings at a nurses’ ball and they were married in June, 1942. After Don’s service in the Army during World War II, they welcomed children Howard in 1946, Fronda in 1949 and Connie in 1951. They enjoyed square dancing, hunting and fishing and were involved in several organizations throughout the years. They loved getting together with their expanding families. After Don’s death in 1971 she continued working at Holy Rosary. Nursing remained Frances’ passion, holding various professional and administrative positions at Holy Rosary Hospital over the years. She began her career before penicillin and disposable needles and bandages. She cared for polio patients during the 1950’s epidemic including Iron Lung patients. In 1974 she became one of only fifteen Montana residents certified as CPR Instructor and taught all over Eastern Montana for several years. As Educational Director she instituted her famous Open House, providing hundreds of cookies and pounds of candy for hospital employees during the Christmas holiday. Frances trained generations of nurses and devoted her career and heart to improving the health of the people of Miles City. Frances and Leo Grasky were married in 1973 until his death in 1999; more family expansion with the addition of Leo’s sons, Leo Jr and Jim and their families. She became active in the Sacred Heart Church with Leo and he joined her in many volunteer activities after her retirement. Frances was very involved with RSVP and Relay for Life for many years and remained with Holy Rosary Hospital through the volunteer program until her death. Frances loved reading and crosswords and a rousing game of pinochle with friends. She enjoyed eating out with friends and family and was always quick to snatch the bill if not watched carefully. She was surrounded with a wonderful group of friends who were always willing to lend a steady arm as needed. She said she could keep on going as long as she had someone to hang onto. Frances titled her autobiography “A Life in Service to Others.” She lived that motto every day: a life in service to family, friends, community and nursing. She is preceded in death by her parents, Edith and Fred Coombe; husbands Don Cummings and Leo Grasky; daughter Fronda and son Howard; son-in-law Gary Stewart; and sisters Freeda Ort, Inez Kober and Hilda Walker. Surviving her are daughter Connie Stewart, grandson Justin (Jenny) Stewart and his children Emma and Finnegan, granddaughter Shannon Stewart, sister Mary Evelyn “Evie” Walker and daughter-in-law Dorothy Cummings. Also surviving Frances are stepsons Leo Jr. (Terry) Grasky and children, and Jim (Mary) Grasky and children. Visitation will begin on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Miles City with a Rosary/Vigil at 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, January 28, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Miles City. Rite of Committal will follow at the Custer County Cemetery. Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home of Miles City is in charge of the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family by Stevenson Funeral home /25/2015

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Emma Frances Coombe Grasky's memorial?
Emma Frances Coombe Grasky's memorial is located at: Custer County Cemetery, Miles City, Custer County, USA.
When did Emma Frances Coombe Grasky death?
Emma Frances Coombe Grasky death on 24 Jan 2015 in Miles City, Custer County, Montana, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Emma Frances Coombe Grasky's memorial?
Latitude: 46.3891983
Longitude: -105.8264008

Family Members:

Parent

Fred G Coombe

(1893 - 1961)

Edith Mathilda Spradlin Coombe

(1897 - 1980)

Spouse

Donald Sherman Cummings

(1921 - 1971)

Leo Bernard Grasky

(1912 - 1999)

Siblings

Edith Inez Coombe Kober

(1922 - 2013)

Children

Fronda Jean Cummings

(1948 - 1997)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Custer County Cemetery
Miles City, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3891983, -105.8264008

2. Calvary Cemetery
Miles City, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3816986, -105.8249969

3. Old Calvary Cemetery
Miles City, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3807600, -105.8246500

4. Eastern Montana State Veterans Cemetery
Miles City, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3807564, -105.8246536

5. Pine Hills School Cemetery
Miles City, Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 46.4077988, -105.8167038

6. Fort Keogh Cemetery
Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3800011, -105.8874969

7. Pine Crest Cemetery
Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 46.4564018, -105.7789001

8. Hathaway Cemetery
Rosebud County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2616997, -106.2185974

9. Powder River Supply Depot Cemetery
Terry, Prairie County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7302900, -105.4350800

10. Rosebud Cemetery
Rosebud, Rosebud County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2689018, -106.4381027

11. Rock Springs Cemetery
Rock Springs, Rosebud County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7847800, -106.1411500

12. Prairie County Cemetery
Terry, Prairie County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7881012, -105.3443985

13. MacKenzie Family Cemetery
Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 46.1569500, -105.1448000

14. Knowlton Cemetery
Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 46.3210983, -105.0710983

15. Little Flat Community Cemetery
Fallon, Prairie County, USA
Coordinate: 46.4598000, -105.0291700

16. Forsyth Cemetery
Forsyth, Rosebud County, USA
Coordinate: 46.2689018, -106.6528015

17. Cottonwood Cemetery
Custer County, USA
Coordinate: 46.4294014, -104.9674988

18. North Stacey Cemetery
Powder River County, USA
Coordinate: 45.7569008, -105.8814011

19. Fallon Cemetery
Prairie County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8168983, -105.1327972

20. Little Flat Community Cemetery
Fallon, Prairie County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7659300, -105.0487600

21. Lutheran Cemetery
Fallon, Prairie County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8320800, -105.1120100

22. Bean Cemetery
Rosebud County, USA
Coordinate: 45.8535995, -106.4011002

23. Mildred Cemetery
Mildred, Prairie County, USA
Coordinate: 46.6850204, -104.9543457

24. Brown Cemetery
Colstrip, Rosebud County, USA
Coordinate: 45.8321991, -106.4180984