| Notes |
- The Leader
September 16, 2014
Frances "Fran" Hilts, 92, following a short illness, passed away peacefully at Jefferson County Hospital, surrounded by her family and friends, on August 24, 2014.
Fran was born on August 28, 1921 in Moreland, Idaho to George Ferrell and Francelle Grimmett Ferrell. She was one of fourteen children. Fran is survived by her "baby" sister Maxine Kopp of Roosevelt, Utah.
In 1939, Fran graduated from Moreland High School, and was awarded "Girl of the Year" for her participation in basketball, a sport she always loved. After graduation, she moved to Shelton, Washington. Fran found employment, as a waitress and a clerk at Woolworths in Olympia, Washington.
In Olympia she met Melvin Milton Mitchell, "Mitch," they were married on April 18, 1941 in a double wedding ceremony with Mitch's brother Aubrey Mitchell and his wife Jean. Fran and Mitch owned and operated a service station in Naches, Washington. Due to the war and the short supply of gas and rubber they sold the business and moved back to Olympia, where they lived on Black Lake. They had three children; Gail Crawford, born in 1943, Melvin M. Mitchell, Jr., born in 1944, and James P. Mitchell, born in 1945.
They moved to Bremerton, Washington, where Mitch worked in the ship yard. Then Mitch found employment in Enumclaw, Washington with Hoffman Chevrolet. They moved to Enumclaw and Fran found employment with Pacific Northwest Bell. Fran and Mitch were divorced in 1959. Fran took a telephone Supervisor position in Auburn, Washington, which enabled her, as a single mother, to raise her three children.
At the Auburn telephone plant she met Lauren "Larry" Hilts. He courted her and they were married in Reno, Nevada on August 21, 1961. This extended Fran's family to include Larry's two daughters, Janet Collins, her three children and Delores Schorgen, all of whom are now deceased.
In 1967, Fran and Larry retired from Pacific Northwest Bell and moved to their cabin on Oak Bay, Port Ludlow, Washington. They had no amenities, no indoor plumbing, but they loved it. They gardened, raised chickens, fished, hunted, went camping, enjoyed their grandchildren, went boating with their friends Alyce and Gene Hansen and volunteered for the local Port Ludlow Fire Department. Larry was elected Fire Commissioner and Fran worked part time at Mats Mats Quarry.
In June 1985, Larry unexpectedly passed away under his apple tree. Fran's life changed again. Their neighbor Clyde Harris, aka "Beach Clyde," was supportive of Fran during this very stressful time. Over time they became life partners. This extended Fran's family to include Clyde's son Phil and his wife Mary Harris, and their children Leah and Paul.
Fran and Clyde kept an open house; they were always entertaining those who lived on Oak Bay and family. They would have their afternoon cocktail hour at 4 pm and follow
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1921 - 2014 (92 years)
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