Hugh M. French
8-30-1948 ~ 12-17-2010
Hugh M. French, 62, went to be with our Heavenly Father on December 17, 2010. He was born in Dalhart, Texas on August 30, 1948. He was raised in Boise City, Oklahoma. After graduating high school, he entered the army. After his stint in the army he worked at various jobs finally settling for a career as a barber. Frenchie moved to Walsenburg in 1977 where he opened his shop on E. 6th Street.
Frenchie was a very good hearted man who always had a smile on his face and a great sense of humor. He loved a good joke. Sometimes you couldn’t tell if he was serious or not.
Frenchie had a heart of gold, was a very generous, caring and trusting person. People were not strangers long, once they met French. He also had a sense of fun and adventure. His interest in things was always there when you spoke with him. He loved nature, being outdoors and always collected something along the way, including wildflowers.
Hugh was preceded in death by his grandparents; his beloved father and friend, Hugh Montford French; stepfather, Arthur Judd; his ex-wife Cheryl French; and his in-laws, Joe and Stella Barela, Joe James, Dickie Hodges, Lawrence Lorraine and Nancy Barela; god daughters Jamie Bobian and Alysa Rodriguez.
Those who will miss the touch of Hugh’s gentle spirit are: wife Stella L. (Barela) French; daughters Shana and Josette; his mother, Helen (French) Judd; sister Michele James; grandsons Dylan and Mikeal French, Wade Schoof and Nicholas Fabian; his beloved pets, who he called his four legged kids, Keedo, Tink, Brownie, Rascal and Biscuit. Other survivors include brothers and sister-in-law Jim, Gend, Bob and Dan (Vela) Barela, Cathy John Jasdzewski, Doris (Jim) Gonzales and Helen Barela and other numerous relatives and friends.
Rosary was held at St Mary Church in Walsenburg Wednesday, December 22 at 7 pm. The funeral mass is Thursday, December 23 at 11 am, also at St Mary Church. Burial with military honors will follow at North St. Mary Cemetery. Boies-Ortega Funeral Home will conduct the services. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, December 29, 2 pm at the Christian Church in Boise City, Oklahoma.
