FRANCES M. GELVIN

Frances Mary Gelvin was born September 1, 1913 in Chicago, Illinois to John Theodore Francis Napoleon and Edith Mae White Ambroise. Her youth was spent in central Illinois, graduating from Atwood High School and marrying her high school sweetheart Cecil Personett. They had two daughters Peggy and Kay. She set her own goals and worked hard to achieve them. She was organized, efficient and expected things to turn out as planned.

In 1947 Frances moved to Richland, WA where her brother was employed. She began working at C .C. Anderson's. A co-worker introduced Frances to her brother Frank Gelvin, they fell in love and were married May 9, 1947. Frank and his family encompassed Frances and her daughters. Frank and Frances enjoyed fishing and camping, family gatherings, playing cards with family and friends. Frances especially the next few years after she became a grandmother; she shared her love of reading, playing music, and sense of family with them. She had great meals and holiday gatherings for her family. She saw to each had the appropriate outfit for every occasion allowing them to look their best and Frank took pictures accordingly. She took time to have them visit individually so she could spoil them in a nice way. She also enjoyed keeping in touch with family through nieces and nephews.

They moved to Kennewick in 1969, Frances continue to work for C.C. Anderson/Bon Marche as Credit Manager until 1970. In the '70's she enjoyed her smaller home, they did more fishing, some traveling, she could read to her heart's content. In the '70s and '80s she stepped aside to enjoy family gatherings at the daughter's homes with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Jack and Julian Ambroise; husbands Cecil Personett and Frank Gelvin also daughter Kay, Kay's husband Gene, and Kay and Gene's son Scott Lawrence. The loss of Kay's family in separate illnesses in a short number of years in the '90s was very difficult for Frank and Frances.

They wanted to stay their own home and with the help of neighbors, friends and family they were able to do this until health conditions put them both in the hospital at the same time. Frank passed on December 9, 2000 and Frances accepted the need for full time assisted living care. Frances passed away November 10, 2003 in Kennewick. The family is very grateful for the help from paramedics to caregivers to doctors, et. al.

Frances is survived by daughter Peggy and Jack Yale, their daughters Karen, Trese and Kathy; and Kay's daughter Lisa. There are eight great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren that will miss stopping to see Grandma Frances.

At her specific written request there will be no formal services; she will be laid to rest next to Frank, Kay, Gene and Scott in Richland at Sunset Memorial Gardens.