Shirley Frost

On November 26, 2021, our mom, Shirley Frost, left to go home. She was born on June 28, 1934, to the late Bird Red the late Nana Eaton Red. She was born and raised in Ignacio, CO, and she grew up on the family farm. Shirley attended the Ute Vocational School and graduated. She then attended Business School in Denver and received her certificate of completion.

Shirley then returned to back to Ignacio and worked first at the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the finance office. She was there for several years then left to work for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe again, working in the finance office. The Indian Health Service (IHS) was her third employer where she worked as a Medical Records Technician. She worked for the IHS for over 25 years before retiring in March 1995.

Shirley was married to Stanley Reed Frost, who passed away in 2020. They had four children, Vernon, Vivian, Michael (deceased), and Cheryl. Mom also had a son, Byron James Red, Sr., who passed away. They had seven grandchildren: JoGenia, James, Byron Jr., Devin, Cameron, Kelsey, and Marysa; and, eight great-grandchildren: Manuel, Kyla, Roo, Trevor, Sage, Anthony, Birdie, and Lane.

Mom was the second to the youngest child. All her brothers; Levick, Melvin, Virgil & Raymond and one sister, Doris Thompson, passed away, except one sister, Effie Red Monte, who is going strong at the age of 91. She was the caretaker of both her parents until they passed away.

Mom was a wonderful mother. She was happy, joyful, full of life, laughing, joking. Very rarely would you see her angry but when you did, you could feel it across the land. She loved to bake, quilt, beadwork, dance, sing, and take care of her family especially the grandkids.

She traveled with her parents and children to various ceremonies throughout Indian Country, attending Sundance, Bear Dance, powwows, and fairs. She was chaperone for her daughter who was Miss Southern Ute and Miss Indian Colorado. For mom, the ceremonies were life. She said it wasn't culture. It wasn't tradition. It was just life. The Ute way of life and everyone had to participate.

There will be a visitation on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at Hood Mortuary Chapel, 1261 E. 3rd Avenue, Durango from 3pm-5pm. A rosary will be recited on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at 9am at St. Ignatius Catholic Church followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10am and burial to follow at Ouray Cemetery, in Ignacio.

The family requests that all who attend, wear a mask.