Francis Cameron "Frank" Jesmer, 72, died Sunday, May 25, 2014, surrounded by family at home in Tiffany. A funeral service was held Wednesday, May 28, 2014 at Bayfield Christian Church, 4995 County Road 509. Chaplain Ken Downey of Mercy Hospice officiated. Burial followed at Pine River Cemetery in Bayfield.
Mr. Jesmer was born June 4, 1941, in Denver, the son of James and Marcella Jesmer. He grew up in Kremmling, where his father was the town sheriff. The family moved to California while he was in high school. Frank obtained his associates degree in business from East Los Angeles City College. He met his wife of 44 Years, Marilyn Gray, and they were married in Orange, Calif., on Oct. 11, 1969. He was a sergeant for the Los Angeles Police Department traffic division until 1987, when he moved back to Colorado. Frank purchased and operated the San Juan Marina in Arboles in 1987 until his retirement in 2001.
Frank drove stock cars in NASCAR in 1962. He enlisted in the U.S Army in the early 1960s for a short time and was discharged due to an illness. He was also an active member of the A.F. & A. M. Masonic Lodge in Buena Park Lodge # 357, having obtained his 32nd Degree Designation. He loved to hunt and fish.
At the marina, Frank was integral in initiating the houseboat mooring and Independence Day firework shows. He was skilled at the day-to-day operations required to operate a marina, such as piloting large vessels and launching extreme-sized boats.
He is survived by his wife Marilyn Jesmer of Tiffany; daughter Leesa Ryan and her husband Emmet of Farmington; three granddaughters, Kellee, Lareesa, and Ashlee, and his mother-in-law: Irene Gray of Tiffany.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, and a son, James Brad Jesmer, in 2013.
Memorial contributions may be sent to Hospice of Mercy, 1 Mercado St., Suite 270, Durango, CO 81301.
