Obituary

Ms. Celeste Marie France, 17, of Buckeye, AZ died August 14, 2015 in Tonopah, AZ. She was born January 29, 1998 in Fort Riley, KS to Jerry B. France Jr. and Jennifer LaBar-Grotte.

Celeste was an Honor Roll student, a member of the school jazz band and marching band. She was a coach for a gymnastics center; not only a coach but a role model for kids of all ages. She was a student council member and yearbook club member. Celeste was on the swim team until her sophomore year. Celeste was in SADD and in FCCLA-Yearbook Club.

Celeste was a Sunday school teacher for Life Church, Williston ND. Celeste taught her herself to play piano. She shared that talent with many others. She sang beautifully. Celeste loved to dance, do flips through the air. Celeste played saxophone throughout her school years. Celeste loved to ride horses. Her horse’s name is Teddy Packer. Celeste loved Jesus. She would sing to Him and play her heart out on that piano. Celeste loved to camp, ride the tubes. Celeste loved cheerleading as she would be the loudest one cheering. Celeste had beautiful smile. A big accomplishment of hers was to make everyone she met smile. She made them laugh. She made people want to be a better person. Celeste was so full of love and laughter and joy. She would go out of her way to make sure others were happy even before she was happy. Celeste brought people together of all ages, races, education. It didn’t matter.

Celeste loved animals. She liked to catch lizards and keep them in her room in a tank. She loved to take walks and greet and befriend each person she met. Celeste’s favorite breakfast was uncooked brownie batter! (I always told her to eat an apple after so I knew she would eat something healthy). She didn’t.

Celeste was a beautiful writer, she loved to write in her journal. This was her way of taking care of herself. She was too busy taking care of everyone else through the day. When she finally had time to herself, she would write. Her words were always put together so beautifully. She touched people by the words she not only spoke but with the words she wrote.

Celeste moved to Williston, ND in 2003 from Kansas. She was 5 years old. Celeste spent 12 years of her life in Williston touching the hearts of so many people. Some people that never got to meet her, knew her and remember her by the smile she gave to all. Celeste finished living in North Dakota as a junior at Williston High School. Celeste moved to Buckeye, Arizona June 5^th, 2015. Celeste started her senior year August 6, 2015, at Tonopah Valley High School. Celeste was going to graduate in 2016. Celeste wanted to go to ASU for social work. Celeste loved children. Any child that met her took to her immediately. She had the chance to move to AZ to be next door neighbors with her Uncle Phil and family. She was so excited to be close to them. She loved to do hair and makeup on her younger sister and cousins. She loved helping people look beautiful on the outside and loved helping them be beautiful on the inside. Celeste always had the ability to calm children and reason with them to help them make better choices, with a gentle heart.

Celeste loved. There are so many accomplishments she made through her short 17 years of life. Celeste loved. Celeste was loved. Celeste is love.

Celeste is survived by her mother Jennifer Grotte, father Clinton Grotte, sisters Abrielle L. Grotte, Jazmyne France of Missouri, Jaiayah France of Washington; brothers Kenyon A. France, Nicholas K. Grotte, Devin France of Missouri, Paul MacSteves; grandparents Mary Frances LaBar, Phillip B. LaBar Jr, Brian Grotte, Tammy Luebbe, and Ida Grotte.

Funeral services will be held at 3pm on Friday, August 21^st at Thompson Funeral Chapel, 926 S. Litchfield Rd in Goodyear, AZ.