Fran McElhaney

1937 - 2025

Frances "Fran" Bell (Bush) McElhaney of Poteau, Oklahoma, passed away in her home on July 11, 2025 at the age of 88.
Fran was born on February 22, 1937 in McCurtain, Oklahoma at the old family home to Jesse and Fannie (Snow) Bush. She married William Merl McElhaney on December 5, 1958.
Fran was the last of ten siblings born. She attended grade school at East Fairview (country school) until a family tragedy occurred and her family moved to the town of McCurtain where she graduated high school with the Class of 1955. Fran graduated as Salutatorian of her class. After graduation, she went to Midwest City to attend business school. After completion of business school, she was employed with OG&E until she became a mother to Alison and Debbie. A few years later she returned to college at Oscar Rose College in Midwest City to get a degree in Teaching. She was a substitute teacher for a short time.
Fran and her family moved and had brief stays in Enid, Oklahoma, in California, in Ada, Oklahoma and eventually returned back to Midwest City. After that the decision was made to move to Poteau, Oklahoma where Fran and Merl both worked for DHS until retirement. After retiring they moved back to Fran's hometown of McCurtain, Oklahoma.
After the passing of her husband, she moved back to Poteau to live with her daughter Alison and her husband, Darryl, until her passing.
Fran met Merl, the love of her life, one weekend while home from college visiting her mom. They were married later. They raised their daughters Alison and Debbie together. Fran enjoyed her daughters – baking cookies, making flower beds and sewing Barbie doll clothes. Fran also sewed clothes for her girls. One of her greatest things was taking her girls to church and raising them to know about Jesus. A great joy for her was being baptized with her daughter Alison. Fran served the Lord all her life.
Fran is survived by two daughters, Alison Teramano and husband, Darryl, and Debbie Dunkle and husband, Brian; her grandchildren, Dustin Riley and fiancée, Courtney,
Eli Mapes and wife, Aliah, Matthew Dunkle, and Lauren Mills; her great grandchildren, Eden Joy Mapes and Addison and Cameron Coburn; her sister-in-law, Lucy Jean Bush; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Fran was preceded in death by her husband, Merl; her parents, Jesse and Fannie Bush; three sisters, Minnie Brunk, Dorothy Means and Ida Madewell; six brothers, Jesse, Willis, Jack, Herschell, Charles, and Ben; and her grandson, Devin Dunkle.
Viewing will be held at Mallory-Martin Funeral Home in Stigler from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm on Wednesday, July 16; and from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm on Thursday, July 17, with Family Visitation from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Thursday.
A Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, July 18, 2025 at McCurtain Assembly of God Church with Rev. Andy Busch officiating. Interment will follow at Milton Cemetery under the direction of Mallory-Martin Funeral Home and Crematory of Stigler.
Pallbearers: Eli Mapes ~ Dustin Riley ~ Tony Riley ~ Weston Lovell ~ Scott Bush ~ Gene Brunk