Frances Elizabeth (Miller) MacPhail
Fran was born November 1, 1937. She passed from this life
June 19, 2017. She is now ever so happy to be with her Daddy
and Mom, her beloved sister Mary and niece Tracy, and many
other close family and friends that have been waiting for her.
Fran was born in Leavenworth, WA, lived in Dryden, WA and went
thru Dryden School, graduating from High School in 1955. She
spent many happy times with her close friend and cousin, Elaine,
graduating from HS together.
Fran's parents were Edwin and Louise Miller. Edwin was an orchardist
in Dryden with two orchards bearing several different kinds of fruit. Louise
drove to Peshastin each morning for her teaching job in Peshastin Elementary
School.
Fran's church was the Dryden Congregational Church (now Dryden Community
Church;) yes, the classic white church beside the highway. She had strong
Christian beliefs from an early age, beliefs she passed on to her children thru
examples in life.
Fran's heritage includes great farm family experiences of North Dakota. Her father
was of German immigrant family homesteading in North Dakota, working large farms
in the area of Beulah and Hazen, ND. Many happy vacation days were spent on the
farms of her cousins; riding horses, exploring the vast open prairies and large family
gatherings with an abundance of food and good times.
Fran met Robert MacPhail in Sept. of 1956 at Wenatchee Valley College. The two
immediately loved each other and were together until death. Fran and Robert were
married Sept. 6, 1958 in the First Methodist Church, Wenatchee, WA. They drove to
Seattle where they completed their college work at the University of Washington. This
often required working nights and going to school days, but they did it.
Moving to Issaquah in 1963, Robert took his first teaching job in that district while Fran
was determined to stay at home and be a wonderful wife and mother, Mother to three
beautiful children: son Robert Mark MacPhail, daughters Kerry Elizabeth MacPhail and
Suzanne Kathryn Burns. Fran did not enter the public world of work until her youngest
daughter was 10 years old. Her children learned so many important things of life at home
with her, from taking turns with making the beds to cleaning up the kitchen to the strong
Christian faith she had.
Fran was happy with her career in the work world, being at CH2MHill (an international engineering
firm) for many years. The happiest work time of her life was in later times at Issaquah Evergreen
Christian Church, where she was secretary for the minister.
Fran was an astounding seamtress, making her own beautiful wedding gown from a picture in a
magazine, with no pattern! And many shirts and dresses for her children, even coats to wear in
cold weather.
Sadly, about 2004, X-rays showed white calcium deposits in her brain. In 2007 she was formally
diagnosed with Alzheimer's dementia. She loved her husband Bob with all her heart and mind and
her (8) grandchildren were the love of her life.
Her husband kept her at home and cared for her until her moment of death in 2017. He was honored
to do this for his wonderful wife, together for 61 years!
In accordance with Fran's own directions, her remains are cremated at Telford's Chapel and there
will be no funeral services.
Notes of remembrance may be sent to Robert MacPhail, 28 Furney St, Wenatchee, WA 98801.
To share a memory or send a condolence gift, please visit the Official Obituary of Frances MacPhail hosted by Chapel of the Valley.