Frances Carol Harvey

Frances Carol Harvey (nee Day) passed away peacefully Monday night, October 14, 2024 surrounded by her family. It would have been her husband Norman's 88th birthday.
"Fran" as she was known to her many friends, was born in Oakland, Calif. to Frank Willis Day and Pearle Irene Day (nee Johnson) on September 28, 1935. Like her mother before her, she was a Campfire Girl, Job's Daughter, and member of the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). She was a late life baby; her two sisters Doris and Marjorie were already in their late teens. Her family enjoyed camping and fishing and often went to Yosemite and Strawberry Lake to take in the views where her father, a commercial photographer and artist, would photograph and paint the breathtaking scenery. It was at a Church youth group trip to Strawberry Lake, that the pretty 14-year old met the love of her life, Norman Grant Harvey. He was the very popular, outgoing curly-haired boy that everyone wanted to date, and although pretty herself, she always felt a bit insecure and was delighted when he noticed her. They dated throughout High School and after Graduation, she worked at a local bank waiting for Norm who was a year younger to graduate. They were soon engaged and Norman joined the Air Force as an Electrician. They were married in June of 1955 as soon as he completed boot camp and electrical training, and were assigned to Travis AFB at Fairfield, Calif. They welcomed their first of three daughters Susan "Susie" (Antoine "Tony" Bourgeois), followed by Sharon "Shari" Bennett a year later.
Norm and Fran and their little family moved to Colorado so that he could go to OCS (Officers Candidate School) where he graduated as a munitions and safety technician and Second Lieutenant. Their first assignment was to Germany. While in Europe, Fran's father passed away, so her mother came to live with them and help with the girls. She loved traveling in their little Blue VW Beetle bug, and Fran often took the girls and her mother on excursions to places like France, Holland, and Switzerland while Norm worked. She started the wives' club players, often writing and directing the company wives in these funny, witty, musical extravaganzas. Their next assignment was to Lompoc, Calif. where the new First Lieutenant's wife headed up some wives' club programs and where their third daughter Sandra "Sandi" (Mauro Nardini) was born. Norman soon advanced quickly to an Inspector General Team moving the family almost every year, leaving Fran to hold down the fort while he was away. She bought properties and invested their monies wisely.
After more moves to Montana, California, and New Mexico, they landed in Atwater, Calif., where Norman retired from the Air Force in 1975. But that didn't last long. Soon Norm got a job with TRW, and he whisked the family off to Iran for more adventures. Fran and Norm, often accompanied by her mother or one of their daughters, continued to travel to exotic locations such as Hawaii, Israel, Russia, Spain, Turkey, Greece and other European countries. They were active members of Evergreen Church in Atwater, Calif. Fran was most often found participating in the women's programs and her ministry of encouragement to all she knew. She often would be found telephoning or writing letters of encouragement to friends and family. She loved traveling, painting, writing, and musical theater, taking after her father, who had been in vaudeville in his younger days.
Her greatest joy was her grandchildren Jennifer Bare (Alex), Jason Crump (Carly), Ashley Bennett, Kyle Bennett (Alyssa), Tyler Bennett (Kat), Breanna Dexter (Bill), Cameron Nardini (Courtney), Dominic Nardini and great-grandchildren Noah Bare, Oliver Bare, Jackson Bennett, Connor Bennett, Michael Bennett, Aubrey Bennett, Kinsley Bennett, Eva Dexter, and Max Dexter. She was the first to join the little ones in dancing and singing familiar children's songs, dressing up for trick or treating, or giving lollipops! She was loved by all of them and will be sorely missed.
Fran will be laid to rest with her late husband at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery, Sana Nella, Calif. Memorial donations are suggested to the Alzheimer's Association (https://www.alz.org/) . Condolences and memories may be shared at www.wfh-ofallon.com.
In lieu of visitation, the family is hosting a celebration of life in honor of Meme at Fletchers' Kitchen & Tap on Sunday October 20, 2024 from 3-6 pm.
Fletcher's Kitchen and Tap
1524 Clinton Hills Parkway
Swansea, IL 62226
Wolfersberger Funeral Home, O'Fallon, Ill., assisted the family.