Frances McPherson ’74 died Nov. 12.
McPherson died Nov. 12. Fran was born Feb. 20, 1922, in Gordo, Ala., to parents Wilma and Lee Howell. She was preceded in death by her husband, M/Sgt. Charles E. McPherson; siblings Levert, Don, Joe and Ruth Sanders; and granddaughter Jennifer Robin McPherson. She is survived by her son, Chuck (Thim); daughter, Becky Hester; grandson James Hester (Sarah); granddaughter Sarah Hester; great-grandchildren Abby, Anna, Lucas Hester and Leah McPherson; her sister Nelda Kring (Arnie); and many nephews and nieces who knew her as Aunt Fannie. After receiving her bachelors degree from Athens College in Athens, Ala., where she worked in a hosiery factory to pay for college, she taught for two years at Gordo High School. After her marriage to Shorty, this Air Force family moved many times. She started a preschool in Wiesbaden, Germany; taught second grade in Albany, Ga.; and finished her teaching career with many years at Lochburn Middle School in the Clover Park School District. After retirement she was a devoted volunteer at a local elementary school and a poll worker. Along the way she obtained a master’s degree from Pacific Lutheran University. She was frequently both a mother and father to her children due to her husband’s military deployments. She was a lifelong learner and voracious reader on many subjects. Her library was vast and varied. She was active in many clubs and regularly attended church at base chapels and at Summit United Methodist. She made many friends as a mall walker and YMCA exerciser. Above all she was a fantastic mother, grandmama and great-grandma; a loving wife; a generous, loyal friend; a devout Christian; a role model; and a superior teacher who affected many lives in a positive way.
