Winifred Grace Briggs

Winifred Grace Briggs was born on February 15th, 1919 in Hornsville, CO, a small eastern Colorado town first settled by her parents, Frank Eugene Horn and Pansy Edith Redford. Winnie shared her parents' attention with a younger sister, Dorothy Helen Johnston, who passed away in 1983, and an older sister, La Frances Pauline Carpenter currently of Modesto, CA. In those days, her father was a farmer and the family was compelled to move around the state to places including Caéon City, Kiowa, and Strasburg while Winnie was in her youth. After enduring the Great Depression, the family lost everything they owned in a fire while in Strasburg. They eventually landed on their feet again on the Williams Fork Ranch near Kremmling in Colorado's majestic Rocky Mountains where Winnie spent her high school days. Following graduation, Winnie moved to Denver and found work at the Republic Drug Store. In 1940, Winnie married Benjamin Valencia. The short-lived marriage brought forth a daughter, Karen Elizabeth Valencia, just a year later. However, Bennie was not an adequate provider. Ever the caretaker, Winnie decided to pack up the baby and create a more suitable lifestyle for the two of them. Winnie's strong will and caring nature became her signature attitude throughout her life. Fortunately, her life was about to change' Clifford Arthur Briggs proved to be the man of Winnie's dreams. They met in Denver, but Cliff was a military man. Cliff was sent to the South Pacific where he was stationed on Tinian, of the Mariana Islands. World War II ensued and the two were not reunited until after the War. Cliff and Winnie maintained a long-distance relationship through letters. As so many of you know, Winnie loved to write. Despite his remote location, Cliff couldn't escape her letters and the two fell in love. In March of 1946, Cliff and Winnie were married in Modesto, California. Cliff also adopted Karen as his own. The new family eventually returned to Cliff's homeland in Iowa, 'where the corn grows tall.' Cliff had been raised in Iowa where his family ran a farm. There they raised Karen, and later Jim. James Adam Briggs was adopted when he was seven. Karen was eleven at the time. Their first residence was an old farm house that needed a lot of attention. Winnie was not deterred. When she saw it she said, 'Most women would have turned around, walked out, and left!' But she cleaned and painted it and fashioned the house into a home. In 1967, Cliff and Winnie moved to Colorado to follow their daughter Karen and her family. Karen married Earl Thomas in 1957 and by now had three children. Winnie couldn't stand to be away from her grandchildren. Cliff immediately began his career in Colorado with Coors Porcelain. By 1973, Winnie joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Cliff was baptized a member of the church two years later. When Winnie made up her mind to do something, nothing stopped her. The day she was to be baptized a terrible snow storm hit the Denver area. Everybody called and said, 'Surely you are canceling your baptism;' but not Winnie. She was determined that today was the day she was going to be baptized. By 1980, Karen and Earl had two more children. That same year, Cliff and Winnie were sealed to each other and to their family in the Salt Lake LDS Temple for time and all eternity. In 1985, the couple was sealed to their parents in the Oakland California Temple. Cliff and Winnie's son Jim joined the Navy prior to finishing high school when he was 17 years old. Jim later finished his education while in the Navy. By the Sixties and Seventies the Vietnam War was raging and Jim was sent to serve in Vietnam as a Black Beret. Jim eventually married Hoa, a woman from Vietnam, and brought her to Denver. However, following the war, Jim lost contact with his parents and family. To Winnie's delight, Jim reconnected with his parents within the past five years. At the very core of Winnie's loving nature, was a heart of gold. She was a caregiver. Family, friends and animals alike understood this about her. As a child on the farm, they raised chickens, hogs, cattle, kittens and rabbits. At one time she counted they had 3 or 4 cats and a total of 49 kittens! Winnie exercised her nurturing skills early in life as there was always a runt in every litter of kittens or pigs. She loved to bottle feed the newborn calves or any other animal that needed nurturing. Cliff and Winnie had several Chihuahuas over the years. She considered them her 'babies.' She loved all kinds of furry critters, especially rabbits. Her home was adorned with stuffed animals and figurines. Just a few weeks prior to her passing, she bought her latest stuffed treasure, a soft, furry Tiger, while on an outing to the Denver Aquarium with her great-grandchildren. Winnie's warmth for the people in her life was manifest through her warm food. Whether making mints or baking cookies, cinnamon rolls, banana bread or her tasty fried chicken, all from scratch, she was always reaching out to others making sure their bellies were full. She loved to handout her baked goods to others; be it the mailman, a neighbor or a stranger. No doubt her recipes contained secret ingredients that caused the recipient to crave more. Once you were lured in, Winnie spun a web of friendships that would entangle so many of her acquaintances for life. In later years, after she joined the church, she loved to feed the missionaries. As you might guess, it was one of their favorite places to eat. Winnie liked to entertain and to serve others (again, with food!) Early on in her marriage, she organized friends for picnics, playing cards, and hosting Halloween parties that were held in the barn. Her church service included stewardship over homemaking activities for the women of ward. Winnie founded a luncheon club here in Colorado with dear friends where birthdays and other special events were celebrated. The club's activities spanned two decades. Winnie loved to care for children. Some of Winnie's fondest relationships were spawned through babysitting for families while their parents vacationed. Many of those children have grown to appreciate Winnie as 'Grandma' as well. Winnie was a wonderful example to her family and to all who knew her. She was willing to serve others in any way that she could. If someone wasn't feeling well, you could be sure that you would get some of her homemade potato soup'just to make you feel better. She followed her Savior's divine example. She never had a lot of earthly wealth, but she'd give you what she had and somehow found a way to give more. Sometimes you had to be careful what you wished for around Winnie. She'd always find a way to give it to you. If you commented on something she had, you just might end up with it. Winnie was a giver and, in turn, she appreciated the things that she was given. Recently, despite her frail physical state, her doctors and nurses were constantly amazed at how she always told them 'Thank you.' Though her body had been failing her over the past several years, Winnie always seemed to mentally persevere and overcame her physical ailments. Winnie's mind and will were strong. How she could find a way to eek out a smile or a giggle in her last days was truly a testament to her sweet, loving demeanor. Winnie enjoyed beautiful things, such as jewelry. Just a week or two before her passing she had admired a necklace of Sandy Minden's, a dear friend of Karen. Sandy took note and later bought her a similar necklace. Her eyes lit up and the smile on her face will be forever emblazoned on Sandy's mind. But Winnie recognized that her real wealth was in her family and friends. Her real jewels and treasures were her children and grandchildren. She found pure joy in telling others about her precious grandchildren and how beautiful and intelligent she thought they all are. One of her best expressions of love was the time that she shared with each one of them. In 1996, Cliff and Winnie celebrated 50 fabulous years of marriage; this year would have been 60! Sadly, her companion for all those years passed away just last February. She is, no doubt, hand-in-hand with him now smiling upon us and pleased to see friends and family gathered together again. Winifred Grace Briggs will be greatly missed by her family and those who knew her. We recognize her devout faith and the knowledge she had of Christ's gospel and God's eternal plan. She had great faith in Melchezidek Priesthood blessings. They were always of great comfort to her. We believe that she has been reunited with her husband, Cliff, her parents, and her family and friends that have gone on before her. As her posterity lives on, may we incorporate some of the Christ-like characteristics that our dear sweet mother, grandmother, sister, and friend possessed. We desire to live our lives so that we to can be reunited with her and her family in the eternities. Oh how we'll miss you '˜til we meet again! We love you, Winnie. Winnie is survived by a daughter, Karen Thomas (husband, Earl E.); son, James Briggs; five grandchildren, Mark A. Thomas, Crystal J. Buckey (husband, Scott), Stephen T. Thomas (wife, Leslie), Matthew E. Thomas (wife, Liz), and Shane D. Thomas; 13 great-grandchildren, Christopher, Elise, Dallen, Ashton, Brynn and Hayden Thomas; Chad, Brandon and Ryan Schneider, and Lacey and Samantha Buckey; Bridger and Alta Thomas. She is also survived by a sister, La Frances Carpenter. Winifred was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband and a sister, Dorothy Johnston. A Funeral Service will be held on Tuesday, July 11th, 10:00am, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - Alkire Bldg., 12995 W. 72nd Ave, Arvada. A viewing will be held at the Church, from 9:00-9:45am, just prior to the Service. Interment, Fort Logan National Cemetery, 1pm, Staging Area "A". 'The Chocolate Chip Grandma' There are those that cook, and then there are those that COOK; and ours is one of the latter! A special touch with a recipe, and all those who met her'just got fatter! She's sweetened us up in many a way'"" her cookies and rolls were supreme! They were just a part of her talent gourmet'"" Just listen'' you'll see what I mean! Remember the stories she tossed with flair'"" the one '˜bout the horse; three sisters rode to school? And how the snow measured up to its belly? They got off and walked' just living the Golden Rule! Downtown Denver was just the right setting this handsome young man she did meet. They must have had the ingredients just right, For indeed, he whisked her right off her feet! Down on the farm the animals kneaded her so. for they could count on her tender care. Porky her shadow, was much more canine than pig, Yes, he followed her almost everywhere!!! Cliff and Winnie nurtured their little sprout, Karen a tiny, sweet, curly-haired miss. Years later grandkids came' and then kids of their own! Just think Grandpa and Grandma' you started all this!!! Winnie's been second mother to many a child, they all tell she was quite the great friend. An afternoon of baking and chatting with Winnie, You never wanted it to end. She's sprinkled our lives with tales of Peter Rabbit, magically told like nobody else ever could. Our hearts and tummies have been filled with gladness, As only a true mother, grandmother, and friend would!