Frances Nieto

Mary Frances Nieto passed away at her home on Thursday, February 8, 2024. She was born on April 19, 1960, in Fort Sumner, New Mexico, to Flavio and Josefina (Garcia) Nieto.

Frances was raised in Fort Sumner and attended Fort Sumner Schools, where she participated in band, volleyball, and basketball. She was a proud member of the Fort Sumner High School girls’ basketball team that won the 1977 New Mexico State Championship. She graduated with the Class of 1978.

While raising her family, Frances worked at the Dariland Drive Inn and volunteered with the Fort Sumner Emergency Medical Services (EMS). She later attended Clovis Community College, where she earned an Associate Degree in Graphic Design. Frances loved art and had a unique ability to see beauty in everything around her. She found beauty in the simple wonders of life, especially in the sunrise, the sunset, and the peaceful colors of the evening sky. She enjoyed painting, drawing, pottery, and photography, expressing her creativity in many different ways. While attending collegein Clovis, she worked for Town & Country and volunteered with the American Red Cross. Frances had a passion for helping others and demonstrated that compassion throughout her life, including regularly donating blood. She also worked at Valero in Fort Sumner and later at Home Depot in Amarillo, Texas.

Frances was steadfast in her faith and was a devoted member of St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Fort Sumner.

Above all else, Frances was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother. She cherished her family and was immensely proud of the children she raised and the grandchildren she adored. Her greatest joy was watching them grow, succeed, and become the people they are today. The love she had for her children and grandchildren was unconditional—a love that will never fade and will forever remain a cherished part of the legacy she leaves behind.

Frances was also a loyal and devoted friend. She would drop everything to help someone in need, whether it meant a late-night drive out of town or staying on the phone until sunrise. She had a remarkable gift for making everyone feel valued, loved, and important. Her generosity, compassion, and selflessness touched countless lives, and she always went above and beyond to care for the people she loved.

It brings her family peace knowing that she is now reunited with her beloved sisters, brothers, parents, and dear friends who passed before her. They find comfort in knowing she is surrounded once again by those she loved and cherished throughout her life.

Frances will be remembered for her unwavering faith, artistic spirit, generous heart, and unconditional love for her family. Her kindness, strength, compassion, and prayers touched countless lives, and the love she shared with others will continue to live on in the hearts of everyone who had the privilege of knowing her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Flavio and Josefina Nieto; her maternal grandparents, Ezequiel and Victoriana Garcia; her paternal grandparents, Flavio and Eugenia Nieto; her brothers, Victor Nieto and infant brother Anthony Nieto; her sisters, Eva Salazar, Martha Casaus, Jane Sena, and infant sister Estella Nieto; her great-nephews, Joziah Gomez and Carlos Anastacio Sena III; and her beloved fur baby, Rascal.

Frances is survived by her three children: daughters Isabel Lucero of Clovis and Josephine Cones (Jason) of Fort Sumner, and son Tony Lucero (Victoria Torrez) of Gering, Nebraska. She is also survived by her godsons, Daniel Sena of Albuquerque and Derek Wertheim of Phoenix; her cherished grandchildren, Kayden Cones and Jazlyn Salazar-Lucero; the father of her children, Tony Lucero, and his wife, Ana, of Clovis; her brothers, Orlando Nieto (Juanita Chavez) of Placitas and Ernest Nieto (Lourdes) of Rio Rancho; her sisters, Gloria Romero (Armando) of Albuquerque, Helen Sena (Anthony) of Española, and Eugenia Casaus (George) of Albuquerque; her aunts, Dolores Machucado (Emilio) of Albuquerque and Tircia Garcia of Santa Rosa; her uncle, Arcenio Garcia of Albuquerque; her dear friend, Teresa Ramirez of Houston, Texas, whom she loved as a daughter; her close friend, Robert Morris of Durango, Colorado; and many beloved nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives, and friends.

Arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (575) 355-2311.