Fran Jenkins beloved mother and grandmother passed away on October 8 2010 at the home of her daughter Karen Jenkins in Dobbs Ferry NY where she had resided since August. The cause was liver cancer. Frances Yvonne Jenkins was born in 1929 to Clara Beatrice Alexander Gibson and Raymond E. Gibson in Oak Park. After graduating from Berkley High School and business college she worked as an executive secretary at General Motors and Ethyl Corporation. She married William R. Jenkins of Ferndale in 1949 and together they raised their daughters Kathryn and Karen in Ferndale. In 1977 she and her husband moved to a small ranch in Redding Calif. As her children grew Fran began a lifelong involvement in community affairs serving as PTA president in their schools and on the Ferndale school board. In 1972 the mayor of Ferndale honored her for dedicated service to the city. In Redding she served as president of the Shasta County Cattlewomen's Association and Redding Republican Women's Federation which named her "Woman of the Year" in 2004. She also sat on the boards of the Redding Symphony and Shasta Women's Refuge. She participated regularly in Redding City Council meetings earning the affectionate nickname "Front Row" Fran. In 2002 the California State Legislature named her Redding's "Woman of the Year". In later years she focused on very local causes especially her neighborhood association reading to children in the nearby elementary school and the new Redding Public Library. She was also a long-time supporter of the local art museum and humane society. Fran will be remembered by many for her unshakable belief in old-fashioned civic virtues her strong but tolerant political views and her tireless committee work. Those lucky enough to be on her long Christmas list will also remember her legendary fruitcakes. Fran was predeceased by her husband and her daughter Kathy. She is survived by her daughter Karen; grandchildren Althea and Jeremy Webber; and sons-in-law Greg Otto of Shasta Lake Calif. and David Webber of Dobbs Ferry NY. Her family suggests that donations in her memory be made to the Phelps Hospice 701 N. Broadway Sleepy Hollow NY 10591. A memorial service with be held in the Resurrection Chapel Roseland Park Cemetery 29001 N. Woodward Ave. Berkley at 10:00 a.m. Friday October 29 2010.
Published in Daily Tribune from October 16 to October 17 2010.
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