Francene Lynne (Sanders) Keith May 15, 1947 – December 16, 2018 Francene Lynne “Fran” Keith, age 71, of Brookings, Oregon, passed away December 16, 2018 at home. An only child, Francene was born May 15, 1947 to Leoice Franklin “Pat” and Carmen Sanders in Enterprise, a town in Northeastern Oregon – a lumber, agricultural and recreational area near Wallowa Lake National Park. For a short time, Sanders’ were residents of San Jose, California, while Carmen worked in an office and… Read More » Pat was a partner to his brother Royal in an interior decorating paint business.
Returning to Brookings, they built a new home up the Chetco River where Francene attended the Upper Chetco School. Neighborly friends shared Fran’s grade school years through the eighth grade. Fran graduated from Brookings Harbor High School and from a vocational school of Cosmetology in Eugene.
On January 20, 1968, wedding bells rang for her marriage to Lester Sidney Nelson. They were blessed with two sons, Chris Lee and Keith Michael Nelson. As a beautician, she lived in Eugene and later moved to Brookings to own and operate the Chetco Barber Shop for many years.
She was delighted to occasionally “cut hair” free for relatives of needy, certain special, elderly, homebound and seriously ill friends. She was always cheerful and eager to please others. A second marriage on her birthday of May 15, 1993 was to Charles Richard Keith at Enterprise, Oregon.
As a retired building contractor, he and Fran visited relatives and toured many parks and points of interest within the United States, Canada and Alaska. Fran and Charles also traveled to Indonesia, a Southeast Asian Nation of volcanic islands where they toured and visited. Their souvenirs were their treasures.
Her first love was fishing! Being a descendant from the Oregon Trail emigrants, she had a true pioneer spirit. She enjoyed hunting, mushrooming, and crafting prize-winning cut-glass animal and flower figures.
As an avid gardener and cook, she was always cooking, baking and delivering food or produce to neighbors and loved ones. Her love and generosity went out in sharing to those around her. Fran was preceded in death by her parents Leoice Franklin (Pat) and Carmen, son Keith Michael Nelson, step-mother Mary Ellen (Beard) Sanders and husband Charles Keith.
Surviving are her son Chris Lee Nelson of Portland; sisters Paula Hochstetler of Vicksburg, Michigan, Mary Pat Sanders, and Linda Ekes; brothers John Keith of Washington, Steve Sanders of Montana; friend Michael Griffith, aunt Lita Inman; cousins Daniel Berry (Tina, Craig, Royal (Sandy), Debra and others from Oregon. She will be missed here, but in eternity with God and through Jesus Christ, Francene will be her healthy and happy self again. A Celebration of Fran’s life will be held at 1 pm on Saturday, January 5, 2019 at St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 401 Fir Street, Brookings.
Redwood Memorial Chapel is assisting the family.
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