Feb. 15, 1925 – Dec. 9, 2018

Fran, almost 94, quickly passed away on Dec. 9, 2018 while vacationing with all her children on Oahu.

Fran was born on Feb. 15, 1925, in Sioux City, Iowa. Her dash in between was very full and included moving to Renton, Washington, during her high school years, studying at University of Washington, meeting and marrying Ray Emory, moving to Peoria Heights, Illinois, only to move back to Western Washington where she spent the rest of her life with the exception of all her travels. Later in her life, she married Ray Schmilski. Both husbands were waiting for her at heaven’s gate when she arrived.

She had many jobs including working at a bakery, at Boeing, a container company, as a bottle capper at the Pabst Brewery, and as a bookkeeper at Allied Sheet Metal, to name a few. She was a closet writer and poet. As we go through her belongings, her voice reaches out to us through her journals and poems. Perhaps the job she loved the most and received the most joy (and gray hairs) from was as a mother to Jo Anna Emory Peters, Scott Emory, Rod Emory, Phil Emory, Peggy Emory Coburn and Helen Emory Stauffer. She spoke frequently of her pride in her six children, her seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her friends and family will remember her always for her wicked sense of humor, her beautiful smile and her love for her family and friends.

A memorial celebration will be held on Jan. 19 from 1-4 p.m. at the Episcopal Parish Hall in Eastsound on Orcas Island, Washington.

In lieu of flowers, Fran would have preferred you donate to your favorite local charity.