Frances McBane

Frances McBane, of Blacklake, passed away Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010. She was born in July 1925 to Zella and Ernest Welch in Aberdeen, S.D. Fran was a very popular girl and elected Winter Relay Queen in her senior year. She enjoyed the good life and the hardships of young people in pre-World War II days. In 1944, while visiting friends in Santa Barbara, Calif., she met Dale McBane, A U.S. Marine Corps pilot. After Dale returned from overseas, they renewed their friendship, which led to marriage on Nov. 11, 1947, in Carson City, Nev. Fran passed away just 16 days short of their 63rd Wedding Anniversary. Fran was on the Orinda Art Board and organized the Children''s Art Center in Orinda, Calif. She and Dale moved to the Sea Ranch on the Northern California Coast in 1969, where she lived for 23 years before moving to Depot Bay, Ore., for three years. Fran had many private showings of her art work at the Sea Ranch Lodge and other Bay area locations. She painted old buildings, grasses and landscapes and sold more than 2,000 paintings in her career. She was the recipient of many awards. Fran was also accepted at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington D.C. Fran and Dale were fortunate to have traveled extensively in Europe, Egypt, Mexico the Caribbean and throughout the United States. Fran was the greatest Mom any family could ever have had. We all love her very much. Fran is survived by her husband, Dale McBane of Blacklake; daughters Wendy McBane of Paso Robles and Browyn Roush of Livermore, Calif.; son-in-law, John Roush of Atascadero; granddaughters Jennifer and Alyce Roush; nephew, Dana Miller and family in Massillon, Ohio; niece, Denise Yost and family of Middletown, Pa. Donations can be made to the Alzheimer''s Association.