Frances Lucile "Frannie" Graham

Frances Lucile Graham

Frannie, as she was affectionately known, was born in Rocky Ford, Colorado on March 6, 1936. She went home to Jesus, April 19, 2010, after a valiant battle against emphysema and COPD.

As a youngster she traveled with her parents, Lawrence and Myrtle Singleton and brother Larry, throughout Arizona and Central California. Her father worked in agriculture. Her parents separated and for a short while Frannie lived with her father in Wastonville. Her brother Larry was working in San Francisco in construction and she joined him so she could finish high school. Frannie graduated from George Washington high school and by then Larry was a successful contractor and the two moved to Arcata, CA where Larry had started to build the science building and library at Humboldt State College.

Frannie attended Humboldt State and graduated in 1958 with a degree in Zoology. She had planned to attend medical school and had been accepted to Harvard Medical School but instead choose to remain and pursue a position that became a Medical Laboratory Technologist. While at Humboldt State she was a Gold Key member, was chosen outstanding senior woman, and was president of Associated Women Students.

While working in her first laboratory at St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka she met her future husband, Lesley Budd Graham, who had just been discharged from the Navy and was enrolled at Humboldt State. They were married at Trinity Lutheran Church in Eureka on June 6, 1959. Upon his graduation they moved to bay area so he could assume his new position as an Internal Revenue Agent.

Frannie continued to work in various laboratories in the bay area including a research lab at Stanford University. It was not long thereafter that two little children entered her life, Leslyn Ann in 1964, and Scott Lawrence in 1966. They became the highlight of her life and remained so until her recent death.

In 1979 the family relocated to Redding, CA where Les was appointed manager of the Redding and Chico offices of the Internal Revenue Service. Frannie retired from her medial duties and enjoyed watching and supporting the activities of her family.
Frannie was active as a member of Trinity Lutheran Church of Redding. She participated in many bible study groups and spent countless hours at home with her own worship studies. Her Portals of Prayer were earmarked on the date preceding her death.

Frannie leaves Les, her husband of 50 years, daughter Leslyn Ann Kraus (David), of Roseville, son Scott Lawrence Graham of Redding, brother Lawrence Singleton (Vonda), of Tucson, sister-in-law Beverly Halus of Oroville, along with numerous nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service is planned for 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 15, 2010, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 2440 Hilltop Drive, Redding, CA.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Frances Lucile Graham Memorial Endowment at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Please sign the guestbook at http://obituaries.redding.com