FRANCES SCHNEIDER

SCHNEIDER, Frances Watts "Fran," 81, passed away September 13, 2011. She was born in Bedford County, Va., March 11, 1930, to the now late Eldridge Russell Bondurant and Martha Epperson Carter. She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur H. Schneider; her brother, Russell R. Bondurant; and her son, Terry Lee Evans. She is survived by her son, Pastor Bill Bradley Evans and his wife, Judy, of Lynchburg, Va.; two grand-sons, Matthew Evans and wife, Autumn, and Billy Bradley Evans II; and two great-grandchildren, all from Virginia; and a devoted niece, Martha Shiflett and her husband, Dennis. Fran set the bar for female entrepreneurs in 1974 when she opened and began operating the family business, Frantiques Antiques & Collectibles in Tampa. Her son, Terry, worked with her. Her business savvy quickly led her to finding a marketing niche in wicker. She specialized in Victorian wicker and collectors pieces and was the "go-to" lady - traveling the east coast searching out unique wicker pieces for her clients. Fran operated Frantiques from 1974 until 1999. Fran and her family would like to thank the many friends who helped to give her the strength she needed over the past year. Thanks goes to her special friend and caregiver, Teresa Boyd, and dear friends, John Barrett and Lucille Robertson. A celebration of life will take place at 6 p.m. Thursday, September 22, at her residence in Tampa. Please come ready to share your stories of Fran's elegance, grace, wit and sharp insightful humor that she continued to express even up to her death. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the ALS Association (Lou Gehrig's Disease) or LifePath Hospice in Tampa in memory of Fran.