Frances Elizabeth MacPhail

Frances Elizabeth (Miller) MacPhail Fran was born November 1, 1937. She passed from this life June 19, 2017. She is now ever so happy to be with her Daddy and Mom, her beloved sister Mary and niece Tracy, and many other close family and friends that have been waiting for her. Fran was born in Leavenworth, WA, lived in Dryden, WA and went thru Dryden School, graduating from High School in 1955. She spent many happy times with her close friend and cousin, Elaine, graduating from HS together. Fran's parents were Edwin and Louise Miller. Edwin was an orchardist in Dryden with two orchards bearing several different kinds of fruit. Louise drove to Peshastin each morning for her teaching job in Peshastin Elementary School. Fran's church was the Dryden Congregational Church (now Dryden Community Church;) yes, the classic white church beside the highway. She had strong Christian beliefs from an early age, beliefs she passed on to her children thru examples in life. Fran's heritage includes great farm family experiences of North Dakota. Her father was of German immigrant family homesteading in North Dakota, working large farms in the area of Beulah and Hazen, ND. Many happy vacation days were spent on the farms of her cousins; riding horses, exploring the vast open prairies and large family gatherings with an abundance of food and good times. Fran met Robert MacPhail in Sept. of 1956 at Wenatchee Valley College. The two immediately loved each other and were together until death. Fran and Robert were married Sept. 6, 1958 in the First Methodist Church, Wenatchee, WA. They drove to Seattle where they completed their college work at the University of Washington. This often required working nights and going to school days, but they did it. Moving to Issaquah in 1963, Robert took his first teaching job in that district while Fran was determined to stay at home and be a wonderful wife and mother, Mother to three beautiful children: son Robert Mark MacPhail, daughters Kerry Elizabeth MacPhail and Suzanne Kathryn Burns. Fran did not enter the public world of work until her youngest daughter was 10 years old. Her children learned so many important things of life at home with her, from taking turns with making the beds to cleaning up the kitchen to the strong Christian faith she had. Fran was happy with her career in the work world, being at CH2MHill (an international engineering firm) for many years. The happiest work time of her life was in later times at Issaquah Evergreen Christian Church, where she was secretary for the minister. Fran was an astounding seamtress, making her own beautiful wedding gown from a picture in a magazine, with no pattern! And many shirts and dresses for her children, even coats to wear in cold weather. Sadly, about 2004, X-rays showed white calcium deposits in her brain. In 2007 she was formally diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia. She loved her husband Bob with all her heart and mind and her (8) grandchildren were the love of her life. Her husband kept her at home and cared for her until her moment of death in 2017. He was honored to do this for his wonderful wife, together for 61 years! In accordance with Fran's own directions, her remains are cremated at Telford's Chapel and there will be no funeral services. Notes of remembrance may be sent to Robert MacPhail, 28 Furney St, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

Frances Elizabeth MacPhail

November 1, 1937 - June 19, 2017