Ben Arthur Frans

BEN A. FRANS Today we are reminded of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing each moment we're given. The loss of Ben came as a shock and left most of us longing for a chance to say good-bye, tell him we love him and hear his voice one last time. Such a sudden, tragic departure is difficult to understand or explain, but it reminds us to show our loved ones how much we care as often as we get the chance. Ben was loved by many people. He is survived by his five beloved children, Kaiyoomia Schamp-Case, Alyssa Martinez, Jayden Maslen, Jasmine Burris, and youngest daughter, Charli Frans; his parents, Wayne and Debbi Frans; brother, John and sister-in-law, Mariah Klayko; sister, Jenny and brother-in-law, Sam Corle; nephews, Brantley Frans and Peyson Corle; grandmother, Carolyn Gray; as well as his two grandchildren, Jaxton Schamp and Karissa Schamp-Case; his partner, Angel Zele; and his step-son, Noah Zele. Ben also has many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends that were like family to him. Preceding Ben in death were his grandpa, Orval Gray; his grandparents, Glenn and Margaret Frans; and his step-grandpa, David Dillon. Ben was born in Durango, Colo. on June 22, 1977. He lived most of his life in Cortez. His mother, Debbie remembers Ben as a very happy, energetic child. For the first eight years of his life, it was just the two of them. He was thrilled when Wayne came into their lives and adopted him. As their family grew, Ben dearly loved his younger siblings. His little brother, John, fast became more than a brother to him. They were best friends throughout their lives and spent a lot of their time together. They also worked on the same crew on the oil rigs, along with their cousin, David. Roughnecking became an important part of Ben's life. He worked hard in even the worst weather and even when injured. He adored his baby sister, Jenny. He was always in awe of her and her ability to learn. Jenny inspired Ben to complete his high school education and get his mechanic's certification. Ben was a huge help in taking care of both his siblings and sought to teach them everything he knew. He taught John all about motorcycles, 4-wheelers, and race cars, both and how to ride them and fix them afterwards. They worked on his Uncle Richard's race cars and other vehicles while at Uncle Richard's shop with their cousin, Mike. His fascination with anything bearing a motor is well remembered by his dad due to all the wrenches he had to replace. Ben was well-known for his creativity and artistic talent. He loved to draw from the time he could hold a pencil. Ben's art evolved over time into tattooing, which became one of his main passions. He will be remembered by many through the art he gave them. Ben even became a skilled metal worker who could turn a plain piece of steel into an image of breathtaking mountain scenery. Ben found tremendous joy in being outdoors in God's creation. He was an avid fisherman and hunter. He and John spent a lot of time on John's boat over the past 10 years, if not fishing from it, then repairing it. One of Ben's greatest pleasures was introducing his daughters to the outdoors, spending time at the lake, playing in the water with them, and showing them how to fish. His love of family was strong, especially for his children. He wanted them to know his love for them, and wanted them to love and trust the Lord. He truly had a love for children and would inevitably end up holding any baby in the room. He tried to teach his children that family sticks together both in good times and bad. There were dark times in Ben's life as well. He battled against drug addiction and depression from the age of 15. Many times he seemed to have conquered his demons, but they had a way of creeping back into his life. Despite this, he was a good man and great father. Ben's quick wit and crazy sense of humor made him easy to talk to. His ability to make everybody around him laugh at any situation, especially the hard ones, made him easy to love. He was better known for sharing his smile than his problems. He is free from his problems now, but our memories of his smile and all the good moments spent with him will never be forgotten. Memorial contributions can be made in memory of Ben Frans with 1st Southwest Bank in Cortez.