Frances Van Aken Stoutamire

Frances Van Aken Stoutamire, 67, passed away March 8 from complications of ovarian cancer that cut short her life but also motivated her to teach others how to face death with dignity, honesty, wit, grace, and acceptance. For some 33 years Francie worked for the State of Florida, finishing up as a website/graphic designer in the Department of Environmental Protection. That work resulted in a passion for photography during retirement and enabled her to capture extraordinary beauty from the ordinary especially during expeditions to Europe and Nebraska. A favorite quote by Br. Geoffrey Tristram sums up her abilities: "I expect you have had such experiences in your lives, when you saw God's presence, perhaps in something astonishingly beautiful or in something actually quite ordinary...the gift of being able to see an object or a person as God sees them: transfigured, and shot through with the divine." Her work is posted at www.franciestoutamirephotography.com. Francie's love of nature led her and husband Jim to create a backyard wildlife sanctuary filled with birds and butterflies. She raised monarch butterflies and loved watching their caterpillars develop into a golden mass of wings.

Francie is survived by Jim Stoutamire, her husband of almost 40 years; son William Stoutamire, director of the G.W. Frank Museum of History and Culture, Kearney, NE; and her sisters Carol Oppel, Austin, TX and Scootie Prior, Burke, VA.

In lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the St. Marks Refuge Association (http://www.stmarksrefuge.org/index.htm) to support a slice of natural Florida that she loved and where she took many beautiful pictures.

At some time in the future a celebration of her life will be held at Dorothy B. Oven Park, Tallahassee, FL and her ashes will be scattered at sunset at the St. Marks lighthouse. Dates and times, when determined, will be posted on the Bevis Funeral Home website (http://www.bevisfh.com/obituaries/).

Kelly Barber of Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193) is assisting the family with their arrangements.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Tallahassee Democrat on Mar. 13, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Frances Stoutamire

Sponsored by Bevis Funeral Home - Tallahassee Cremation-Prearrangement Center.

9 Entries

Cathy Veasey

August 6, 2016

Dear Jim and William,
I heard about Francie last night and am so sorry for your loss. Francie was a dear friend when our sons were young at the Unity Church. William and Thomas played together every Sunday and Francie and I talked about all of those things that mothers do. I didn't know about her illness, but I know that she lived with it with prayer, knowledge and grace as she did everything in her life. She has left a light in this world that will never go out.
Cherishing our memories, I pray for your comfort and peace.

March 21, 2016

Thinking of you Jim, and Will, during this sad time. Remember all the wonderful memories and she'll always be with you. Love, Juliet

Lisa Duchene

March 15, 2016

My deepest sympathy to Jim, Will, and Francie's extended family. Francie was such a kind and caring person, with so much love for her family and nature. I loved seeing her beam with pride when telling stories about Will and his accomplishments. She surely enjoyed motherhood and had much to be proud of in Will. I also loved her beautiful nature photography. Her photos of flowers, birds and butterflies are awe-inspiring masterpieces. She will be missed.

John Bottcher

March 15, 2016

I am deeply saddened to hear of the loss of Francie. She was an institution in the legal office for DEP for many years. She inspired many young attorneys (and some not so young) to achieve success. She taught many of them word processing skills, and led them through the state maze of administrative, judicial, and governmental procedures. She will sorely be missed. Condolences, thoughts, and prayers to her family.

Jane Jordan

March 15, 2016

Francie was one of my first Facebook friends, reaching out to me when I admired one of her photos on Native Nurseries FB page. My husband and I enjoyed meeting her when she shared with us her garden and enthusiasm for birds on an Audubon Tour of Homes a couple of years ago. When I last saw her she was brimming with excitement over her upcoming trip to the UK and a featured excursion to Iona. I very much enjoyed my brief acquaintance with such a warm, friendly person.

March 14, 2016

Jim, Prayers for you and your family at this time in your life. Cherish the wonderful memories and her wonderful photos.

Teri Valente

From Francie's Caring Bridge site

Annette Hannon Lee

March 13, 2016

I first knew Francie when she was one of my Spanish students at Leon High in '64-'65. A couple of decades later, I encountered this remarkable woman again through our mutual friend Suzy Cook Warrner. She's been on my mind and in my heart ever since I heard of the great battle she's fought with cancer. Francie will be greatly missed by so many friends, but how wonderful to continue to enjoy her beautiful photography via her website! My sincere sympathy to her husband and son.

Silvia Alderman

March 13, 2016

Jim and family, I was so saddened to learn of Francie's death in the paper this morning. I remember her fondly from our days at DER. Please accept my condolences. Having read about her photo gallery, I browsed through it this morning and was especially pleased to see all the Nebraska photos, as I grew up in Chadron, Nebraska. It is a very small world. She was a great-hearted person whose life had influence on others and I'm sure you are very proud of that.

You will be in my thoughts and prayers.

Franklin

March 13, 2016

Jim,
Very sorry to hear about Francie. I did not know about her illness. It's especially sad when I realize we lost a member of the neighborhood where we grew up. I will put you on our prayer list this morning at church.

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