Wrangell Sentinel -

Frances (Fran) Bolstad, 63, died July 26, 2012 in Seattle, Wash.

Fran was born August 31, 1948 to Ruby Hannaford (Taylor) and Frank Ramirez in San Francisco, Calif. She spent her early years with her parents who sharecropped strawberry fields while she toddled around in her orthopedic shoes wading through the irrigation ditches. She reaped the benefits of having a praying Christian paternal grandmother and great grandmothers on both sides.

After her parents divorced she and her mom spent several years living with her grandparents in Palo Alco, Calif. while her mom worked and her grandparents helped raise her, read to her and took her to school. One of her favorite books was of children’s poetry by Robert Louis Stevenson and one of her dearest treasures were lead toy soldiers that had once belonged to him, given to Fran by a relative who was a nurse for Mf. Stevenson’s aunt. Fran spent the next four years getting to know her future siblings, Allen Jr. and Audrey while Ruby dated and was engaged to Al Taylor. They married when she was eight years old.

Fran enjoyed school and loved to read and write. She even attempted to have her stories published after receiving a typewriter from her parents for her eighth grade graduation.

She helped care for her younger siblings, David and Yvonne, when they were babies and really missed being around them when she moved back to Palo Alto to graduate from high school and begin college classes. She especially missed them two years later when they moved off to Alaska.

Fran became a housewife when she met ad married a statistician from the Lockheed Corporation, while continuing her education. Family and friends told Fran that with her long hair she looked a lot like an up and coming singer named Cher.

Life may have turned out differently for Fran if they had not bought a home next door to a band member from the Grateful Dead. Her marriage ended due in part to the parties and lifestyle they chose in California in the 60s.

Fran spent several more years living near and with her grandparents till their deaths, and then moving to Wrangell in 1983 to reconnect with her family.

Fran enjoyed fishing, traveling, picnics, 60s music, visits from her pastor, spending time with family and friends, going out to eat, helping out around the house and Taylor’s Music. Most recently she could be seen around the halls of the Long Term Care of Wrangell Medical Center where she resided.

In her death Fran was able to be a blessing to someone else through the donation of her corneas.

Services for Fran will be Sunday, August 5, at Harbor Light Assembly of God at 1:30 with viewing prior.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Harbor Light Assembly of God or the Hospital Auxiliary.