Mrs. Frances Jenkins

1929 - 2010

Mrs. Frances Jenkins

Fran Jenkins, beloved mother and grandmother, passed away on Friday, October 8, 2010 at the home of her daughter, Karen Jenkins, in Dobbs Ferry, NY.
The cause was liver cancer.

Frances Yvonne Jenkins was born on August 6, 1929 to Clara Beatrice Alexander Gibson and Raymond E. Gibson in Oak Park, Michigan. After high school and business college, she worked as an executive secretary at General Motors and Ethyl Corporation. She married William R. Jenkins in 1949, and together they raised their two daughters, Kathryn Marie and Karen Gail, in Ferndale, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.

As her children grew, Fran began her lifelong involvement in community affairs, serving as PTA president in their schools and on the Ferndale school board.

In 1977, she and Bill moved to Redding, where she reveled in the climate's effect on her roses, filled every inch of shelf space with canned fruit and vegetables from Bill's expansive garden, and grew comfortable with the steers and chickens he raised, if never with the snakes in the pasture.

Fran continued her commitment to community in Redding, where she served as president of the Shasta County Cattlewomen's Association and sat on the boards of the Redding Symphony and Shasta Women's Refuge. She was active in Redding Republican Women's Federation, serving two terms as president and proudly hosting a table at the annual Christmas tea for many years. In 2004, RRWF named her Woman of the Year. She was most proud of the Parkview Neighborhood Association, with which she was deeply involved. Fran was a fervent advocate of literacy, reading frequently to children at the Juniper School, donating books requested by teachers to the school library, and helping to raise funds for the new Redding Public Library. She was also a long-time member and supporter of Turtle Bay and Haven Humane Society.

Fran regularly attended Redding City Council meetings, where she weighed in on many issues, earning the affectionate nickname, "Front Row" Fran. She frequently led the Pledge of Allegiance to open the meetings. Her devotion to community service won her many awards, from groups ranging from the Women's Refuge to the Northern California Veteran's Cemetery. In 2002, State Assemblyman Dick Dickerson recognized her years of community service by naming her "Woman of the Year" in a ceremony at the State Legislature in Sacramento.

Over the years, Fran touched many lives through her unshakable belief in old-fashioned civic virtues, her strong but tolerant political views, and her tireless committee work. For decades, she was also the baker and giver of legendary Christmas fruitcakes that were eagerly awaited by those lucky enough to be on her long list.

Fran was predeceased by her husband of 43 years and her daughter, Kathy.

She is survived by her daughter, Karen, of Dobbs Ferry, NY, her grandchildren, Althea and Jeremy Webber, and her sons-in-law, Greg Otto, of Shasta Lake City, and David Webber, of Dobbs Ferry. Her family suggests that donations in her memory be made to the Redding Public Library, the Shasta County Women's Refuge, or the North State Symphony.

A memorial service will be held in Redding at a date to be announced.
Please sign the guestbook at http://obituaries.redding.com