Frankee Page Eliot DVM
It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Frankee Page Eliot at the age of 91 on July 22, 2022.
She will be lovingly remembered by her children Lee and Debbie Eliot, Jennifer and David Thornburg, and Lisa and Brian White. 14 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, and her sister Patricia Green. She was preceded in death by her loving husband Theodore S. Eliot, Jr DVM and her parents, Ted and Myreta Page.
Frankee was born in Hastings, Nebraska July 17,1931 but grew up in Grand Island, Nebraska. Her father passed away when she was 7 years old and was raised by her widowed mother and paternal grandparents. After graduating from Grand Island High School in 1949, she and her family move to Boulder, CO in order for Frankee to attend college. After applying to every Veterinary School in the US, she was finally accepted on her second try to Colorado A&M (CSU). She was 1 of 2 women accepted into veterinary medicine program which at the time was dominated by men. She was a member of Phi Zeta Sorority. Frankee met the love of her life, Ted Eliot at college. They initially fell in love because Frankee liked his automobile; a Model T, Frankee and Ted married in 1955.
Upon graduating from veterinary school in 1956, the family moved to Los Alamos to own and run their first private practice in Los Alamos, NM which included working at Los Alamos Scientific Labs (LANL). Frankee became the first licensed woman veterinarian and 53th licensed veterinarian in the state of New Mexico. Frankee and her husband subsequently owned 3 other private practices in New Mexico-Las Cruces, Silver City, and Santa Fe.
Frankee combined her love for veterinary medicine and travel and with family in tow by teaching at several universities: Oklahoma State University, Universidad de Guatemala, Mississippi State University, Ross University in St Kitts VI, and University of Missouri. She also helps develop and teach the Veterinary Technician program at Central New Mexico Community College.
Frankee semi-retired in her 70’s as she could not give up veterinary medicine. She did relief work for private veterinarians and worked the horse racetracks test barns at Sunland Park in Texas and various tracks in New Mexico. She worked part-time at Holloman AFB and Ft Bliss veterinary clinics. She also worked for the New Mexico Board of Veterinarians, as an inspector and investigator.
Frankee was President of the National Woman’s Veterinary Medicine Association in 1965. She was presented with a distinguished Veterinary Award from the New Mexico Veterinary Medical Association 2012.
Frankee always made an effort to attend her children’s and grandchildren’s activities, whether it was horse shows, choir concerts, band concerts, sports, graduations, and weddings, even if she had to travel long distances. She loved to participate and watch sports which continued until her death. Christmas was one of her favorite holidays as she loved to shop. A standard birthday or Christmas gift was attaching money to candy bars. She enjoyed her high school reunions and visiting relatives.
Full retirement came at age 80 due to her diagnosis of dementia. She enjoyed church activities and doing her puzzle books.
A Memorial Service will be held on August 6,2022 at 10:00 am at Shepherd of the Valley Presbyterian Church at 1801 Montano Rd NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Published by Albuquerque Journal on Jul. 31, 2022.
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