Frances Craig Garner

Frances Craig Garner, age 91, passed away peacefully on 28 February 2026. Beloved Mother, Community Member, and Lifelong Resident of Newport, North Carolina.

A graveside service to honor Frances's life will be held at 3 p.m., Saturday, March 28 at Cedar Grove Cemetery, officiated by John Smith. For those unable to attend, the service can be viewed through her obituary page on Munden Funeral Home’s website. Friends and family are invited to attend. Following the service, family and friends will gather at Cox’s Family Restaurant in Morehead City to continue sharing stories and fellowship. Those attending are invited to join for a meal and may order individually.

Born and raised in Newport, Frances was a lifelong pillar of the Newport community. She graduated from Newport Consolidated School and dedicated her life to her family, her friends, her insurance clients, and the town of Newport.

A devoted mother and grandmother, Frances took great pride in supporting her family and friends in every stage of life. She was known for her ready laugh, warm hospitality, her willingness to lend a helping hand, and her deep roots in local traditions. Whether initiating and volunteering at community events or cheering on family and friends at school and sporting activities, she embodied the spirit of kindness and commitment that defined her life in Newport.

After returning to Newport, as a military wife with two children, she launched a legacy of volunteering and community service. Among the accomplishments she shares with dear friends and extended family are the Ladies Auxiliary of the Newport Fire Department, Newport Pig Cookin’ Contest, The Newport Hootenanny, Operation Christmas Turkey, Meals on Wheels, and Newport’s July 4th Fireworks. She served the residents of Newport from 1972 to 2011 as a beloved insurance agent at Larry Howard Nationwide which transitioned to become Tim Necaise Nationwide.

When she was not working or serving the town, she loved to travel. She was always in the company of friends – old and new. Her sidekick in later years was Mr. Frank Benton. Where you saw one, the other was somewhere close by.

Frances Craig Garner was preceded in death by her first husband, Bill McClanahan and her second husband, Dick Garner, and her parents Mary and Aaron Craig. She is survived by her daughter, Ana McClanhan (husband, JD Schaefer) and her daughter-in-law Jackie McClanahan (husband & son of Frances, now deceased, Craig McClanahn). Her grandchildren include DJ Garner (wife, Rachel Garner), Ariana Nelson Brown (husband Marlin Brown), Aaron Nelson, and Michael McClanahan. Great-grandchildren include Leland, Evelyn, Emerson, and Eleanor Brown.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the “Newport Volunteer Fire and Rescue Auxiliary.” Checks can be made out to NVFRA and mailed to P. O. Box 805 Newport, NC 28570

The family wishes to thank all those who offered comfort and support during her illness and invites friends and loved ones to celebrate a life well-lived.

Family and friends are welcome to submit online condolences at www.mundenfuneralhome.net.

Arrangements by Munden Funeral Home & Crematory in Morehead City, NC.