Frances Virginia McNenny

Frances Virginia (Morrissette) McNenny, 86 years of age, of Lincoln, formerly of Beatrice, passed away at the Ashland Care Center in Ashland, Thursday morning, March 19, 2009.

She was born on Feb. 20, 1923, in Durham N.C., to Howard and Essie (Chandler) Morrissette. As a young girl, she and her family moved to Hot Springs, Ark., where she graduated from Hot Springs High School. She and George McNenny were married on Feb. 8, 1945, in Hot Springs, and then moved to Beatrice with her family in 1961. Their custom-designed home on Belvedere Drive was well known as the site of many entertainment events, and was a showcase of her decorating talents. She moved again to Lincoln in 1999 after the death of her beloved husband.

Gregarious and always cheerful, she enjoyed her many community activities, including the Lincoln Symphony Guild, Nebraska Art Association, Community Players and the Red Hat Society. She was an active member of the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lincoln and former member of the Christ Church Episcopal in Beatrice. Especially proud of her Southern heritage, she also was active in D.A.R., Colonial Dames, and the Huguenot Society. She also volunteered her considerable talents and energy to Beatrice Community Hospital, Meals on Wheels and became a docent at the Sheldon Art Gallery. She somehow found the time to self-publish a number of books on her overseas travels she so much enjoyed with her husband, as well as a book on her family's genealogy, and one on their life together.

Survivors include her son, Howard McNenny and wife Dianne of Albany, Calif.; granddaughters, Katherine and Rosemary; great-granddaughter, Jordan Rose; and daughter-in-law, Nada McNenny of Lincoln. She was preceded in death by husband, George (1998); son, Kevin Patrick McNenny; and brother, Doug Morrissette.

Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, March 23, at the Westminster Presbyterian Church at 2110 Sheridan Street in Lincoln, with the Rev. Ellen Davis officiating. Inurnment of ashes will be at a later date at the Evergreen Home Cemetery in Beatrice. There will be no visitation as cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to the Odyssey Hospice with the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Lincoln in charge. Online messages of condolence may be left at http://www.griffithshovendick.com">www.griffithshovendick.com. The Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in Beatrice has been entrusted with these services.