Jean Frances Fraga

Jean Francis Fraga (nee Barnes) was born on August 31, 1936, to George and Leona Barnes in Newark, New Jersey. She passed on September 27, 2025, in Springfield, Oregon. She grew up in Sacramento, California, with her younger brother, George Barnes, Jr. She was involved in Girl Scouts and active in her local church. After she graduated high school, she attended Sacramento City College until June 1956, then transferred to Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon, in September 1956. At OSU, she studied Home Economics and Preschool Education and joined Kappa Delta sorority. She graduated with her Home Economics degree in 1959. In the spring of 1959, Jean met Richard (Rick) Fraga. Jean was walking to church with a sorority sister when they were introduced. Rick and Jean soon started dating, and, by December, Rick and Jean decided to get married. On July 16, 1960, Rick and Jean were married in the Holy Spirit Catholic Church in Sacramento. Children soon followed, and the family moved to Oregon. Their daughter, Mary Katherine Fraga, was born on August 29, 1961. Their son, Anthony Joseph Fraga, was born on November 9, 1962, and their son, Richard Fraga, Jr., was born on August 22,1968. Jean obtained her Title I reading certificate from University of Oregon and became a SMART Reading teacher for the Springfield School District for several years, something she enjoyed immensely and talked about frequently. She kept active throughout her life with trips around the United States and to other countries, Jean had so many hobbies that kept her busy. Aside from church activities, she loved cooking, gardening, sewing and spending time with her family and friends. She was a very active member of the Red Hat society, collecting many hats she was so proud of. She loved watching her grandchildren's sports and school activities, musicals and plays. Additionally, she served several years as a Cub Scout Den mother. Jean is survived by daughter Mary Katherine Minder (m. Paul Minder) and son Richard Fraga Jr. (m. Traci Yancey Fraga). She is survived by grandchildren Nicole Lisenby (m. Josh Lisenby), Dustin Minder (m. Shayna Minder), Tristin Fraga, Courtney Fraga, Emma Bales and great grandchildren Ethan Thomas Minder and Ayden Cooper Minder. Jean was preceded in death by her son, Anthony Joseph Fraga, and her husband, Richard Thomas Fraga, Sr. Jean supported a large number of charities over the years. She had a large heart and a compassionate soul. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity in Jean's name. A celebration of life will be held on Friday, October 10, 2025, at 12:00 p.m., at Major Family Funeral Home in Springfield, Oregon. Please come and join to celebrate a long, beautiful life lived by an equally beautiful woman who loved everyone she met. We encourage you to bring your favorite stories to share. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jean, please visit our floral store.