Florence Mercedes Nielsen Myers (“Frankie”), 95 years old, died peacefully at home on November 17,
2021, surrounded by family. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who carried herself with
tremendous style and grace. She will be deeply missed.
She attended the Ohio State University for one year, where she was nicknamed Frankie by her college
friends. Her plans to transfer to the Columbus School of Art and Design the next year were derailed
when she met and married Edward Myers. Born and raised in Chicago and Dayton, Ohio, upon her
marriage at age nineteen, the newlyweds promptly moved to Arizona. As a military wife, she enjoyed
numerous social groups and settings, living in Globe, Arizona; West Palm Beach, Florida; Ann Arbor,
Michigan; Greensville, South Carolina; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Brussels, Belgium; Andrews AFB,
Maryland; Annandale, Virginia; Solon, Ohio; Morrison, Colorado; Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. An avid traveler,
she has visited over 50 countries. She and her husband visited friends in Pakistan, engaged in a ‘round
the world’ trip in 1987, and cruised to Alaska. As a widow in her 80’s and 90’s, she visited her daughter
in Jerusalem and Jakarta, and continued to travel with each of her five children to Hawaii, Namibia,
Tahiti, the Greek Islands, Bonaire, and take European River cruises.
Frankie had a lifelong passion for arts and crafts. Her primary interest was painting; she worked in
watercolor, chalk, oil, and acrylic creating portraits of people, plants and animals, still life, landscapes
from her travels onto canvas, paper, furniture, clothing and more. She also was engaged with sewing,
knitting, pottery, and many other crafts. She and her husband enjoyed many elder hostels and craft
workshops learning new skills. In her later years, she was a leader of the artists’ group at the Fairfax,
where her paintings were displayed and sold to magazines and patrons.
She was also skilled in the kitchen – she loved preparing and enjoying dishes from a wide variety of
cuisines. Her time in Arizona introduced her to her favorite dish: Chili Rellenos. While living in Brussels,
she enjoyed Le Bayeux French cooking classes, and introduced her family to many delectable dishes.
Frankie was generous with her time, volunteering where help was needed. From holding newborns in
the neonatal ward at the Wright-Patterson AFB Hospital, to making floral arrangements for the tables at
The Fairfax and working in The Fairfax thrift shop, she was always helping others.
In addition to her activities, her priority was always family and friends. She sponsored several extended
family reunions and was even hoping for a 96th birthday party family reunion. She especially enjoyed
reading, games and puzzles with her grandchildren. She loved hosting social gatherings, and was very
active with duplicate and social bridge groups wherever she lived.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Col. Edward James Myers, USAF, Ret., and her parents Anna
Clarinda Gertrude Bjerrehus Nielsen and Peter Nielsen, and her sister Joan Carol Holland. She is survived
by her three sons, Peter Douglas Myers of Elizabeth, Colorado; David Keith Myers (Sharon) of Littleton,
Colorado; and Kirby Todd Myers of Springfield, Virginia; and her two daughters, Jan Myers Harkless
(Jack) of Arvada, Colorado; and Polly Anne Myers (Hugh Stuart) of Falls Church, Virginia; as well as 17
grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.
We would especially like to thank Jeanne Conner, Amy Egger, Victoria Chiekwe, and others at Vitas
Hospice and the Home Health Options Group for the quality and compassionate care and support they
provided us this year.
A memorial service to celebrate Frankie’s life will be held at 1 p.m. on January 29, 2022 at The Fairfax at
Belvoir Woods. Her ashes will be interred at Fort Logan National Cemetery in a private military
ceremony at a later date.
