Aften Flake Rencher

Aften Flake Rencher, passed away peacefully Wednesday morning, October 1, 2008. In her own words Aften records, " My sojourn on earth began in the Blue Room upstairs in the Big Flake House. I was born August 8, 1916 the sixth daughter and thirteenth child of James M. and Martha Smith Flake. My mother was the second wife of my father after his first wife, Nancy Hall died of pneumonia, leaving him with nine motherless children. That made me number twenty-two child of my father". Aften's childhood and school days were spent happily and busily in Snowflake, highlights being her love of her family and her musical talents. Aftens's saddest moments were when her mother died just two days after her fifteenth birthday. Aften married Joseph Lynn Rencher on her eighteenth birthday in 1934. She and Lynn lived in "road camps" while he worked as a powder man in road construction. In 1939, they moved to California, living briefly in Hermosa Beach and then settling in Manhattan Beach where they lived until June of 1948. They then lived ten years in Farmington, New Mexico, four years in Bolder, Colorado, and twenty-three years in Canon City, Colorado. No matter where they lived, Aften was a dedicated wife and mother, an outstanding homemaker, and a thoughtful friend. Soon after celebrating fifty years of marriage, Lynn and Aften and one son Dwaine returned "home" to Snowflake where Aften has spent the last twenty-three years of her life. Aften cherished her Snowflake pioneer heritage, her family including extended family and her membership and service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her "turn on earth" has ended, but her love and strength and good example will continue to bless the lives of innumerable family and friends for years to come. Aften is survived by one sister, Fern Fairbourn of South Jordan, Utah and one sister-in-law, Marjory Flake of Snowflake. She is survived by six of her seven children, Marilyn (Julian) Ralph, Lureen (Kenneth) Orchard, Ronald Rencher, Valden Rencher, Velda (Kenneth) Anderson, and Dennis Rencher. She is survived by twenty-three grandchildren, twenty-nine great-grandchildren, nineteen special in-laws, numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. Aften was preceded in death by her parents James and Martha Smith Flake, her husband Lynn Rencher, and one son, Dwaine Rencher: grandson, Gregory Roberts. A visitation will be held Tuesday, October 7, 2008 from 6-8 PM at the James Madison Flake Big House in Snowflake. Funeral services will be Wednesday October 8, 2008 at 10:00 AM at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Main Street Chapel 84 N. Main, Snowflake, Arizona, with a visitation 1 hour prior. Interment will be at the R.V."Mike" Ramsay Memorial Cemetery in Snowflake.