Francine Marie BOXER

1950 - 2018

BOXER,
Francine
Marie

Francine Marie Boxer died peacefully with family at her side at Sacred Heart Medical Center on February 12, 2018 in Spokane, Washington after a 13 year battle with cancer. She was 67 years old. Francine was born on September 17, 1950 in Spokane to Francis and Erma Boxer. She graduated from Shadle High School in Spokane in 1968. Shortly after graduating from high school, Francine began working as a secretary for The Spokesman-Review. In October 1972, she was hired by the Spokane Chamber of Commerce Hospitality Services as the Executive Secretary and Assistant Manager for the Expo '74 lodging and information bureau. In May of 1975, Francine began employment with Spokane County as an Administrative Assistant in the Juvenile Court Department. This was the first of fourteen different positions Francine held with Spokane County including Director of Geiger Corrections and Director of Parks, Recreation, and Golf. In December of 2000, Francine was appointed as Chief Executive Officer for Spokane County. She was the first woman to have ever held that position. Francine retired from the county after serving 30 years in December, 2004. Concurrent with her career, Francine had a calling for academia. After completing her undergraduate degree, she received her Master's Degree and ultimately her PhD. She also spent evenings serving as an adjunct professor in the Master's Program at Eastern Washington University. Francine loved art and was very accomplished at creating stained glass art and jewelry. She started a business called Lady of the Lake Jewelry Design where she created beautiful necklaces, bracelets, and earrings and sold them online, at local art shows, and at gallerias in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico . She had received numerous awards and recognition for her works of art. Francine's other interests included traveling, collecting and selling antiques, camping in her vintage trailer with her friends in Sister's on the Fly, cooking, gardening, hiking, boating, visiting her condo in Puerto Vallarta, and of course, Frankie her Airedale who she called "the love of her life." Francine had a real passion for life and always excelled at anything she became involved in. Through her involvement with Spokane County, academia, the art community, and with her positive outgoing personality, she literally had hundreds of friends and will be missed by many. Francine is survived by her husband, David Purtill, of Newman Lake, WA, her identical twin sister, Charlotte Boxer of Portland, OR, her older sister, Mary Ann Ramotowski and her husband Steve Ramatowski, of Spokane, WA, her two nephews, Robert Green of Phoenix, AZ and Chad Green of Spokane, WA and their families, and niece Machelle Rzepka and her husband Rick and their daughter, Summer, of Nine Mile Falls, WA She is preceded in death by her son Wyatt Bjornson, her parents Frank and Erma Boxer, and the oldest of the Boxer siblings, Betty-Jo Stein. A private committal service with her surviving family members will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery prior to her inurnment. Condolences can be sent to davpur@comcast.net. The family would like to express thanks to Cancer Care Northwest and Providence Medical Center and Health Care for all of their loving and compassionate efforts with Fran's illness and her final days. For anyone wishing to make a contribution in Francine's name, they can be made to the Poor Clare Nuns at The Franciscan Monastery of Saint Clare, 4419 North Hawthorne Street, Spokane, WA 99205 or to Because There is Hope at 4711 N. Maple St., Spokane, WA 99205 or to another charity of your choice.