Frances McElhinney

FRANCES A. MCELHINNEY

Morning Sun

Frances A. McElhinney, 74, of Morning Sun, died peacefully at her home with her husband by her side after a courageous battle with leukemia on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. A celebration of her life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 31, at Centenary United Methodist Church in Morning Sun officiated by the Rev. Carl Benge. A visitation with the family meeting friends will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the church.

Fran was born Jan. 26, 1943, to Alice Vance and Myron Ibbotson, in Burlington. She was raised in rural New London and attended school there. She graduated from Burlington High School. Fran married Richard McElhinney on Feb. 10, 1968, in Burlington. Fran and Dick enjoyed raising their children, Shawn and Dave, in Morning Sun. She worked for 36 years at the Iowa State Bank where she was vice president and cashier and worked on loans, IRAs and the bank's accounting. Her attention to the customers' needs was foremost in her career. She was a member of the board of directors and served on the loan committee.

Fran enjoyed time spent with her husband, Dick, and going to antique car shows with their 1955 Chrysler car, Rosie. She loved spending time with her children and her grandchildren, whom she adored. She delighted in each of their unique personalities and interests. Fran's grandchildren were loved unconditionally, prayed for daily and spoiled by her whenever she could. Each of them brought her great joy. This April, Fran and Dick treated the entire family to a vacation at Disney World as an early celebration of their 50th anniversary, which would have been Feb. 10, 2018.

Fran was very active in her church with the Good News Club being among her favorite activities. She was also involved in the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed country western dancing. She was honored as the 2016 Citizen of the Year by the Morning Sun. A community she loved and was thankful for all the support the people of Morning Sun gave her and her family during her illness.

Her survivors include her husband, Dick; her daughter, Shawn (Steve) Inghram of Cedar Rapids; her son, Dave (Dawne) McElhinney of Jacksonville, N.C.; seven grandchildren, Kate (Eric) Nelson of Minnetonka, Minn., Mike and Jake Inghram of Cedar Rapids, and Michelle, Joshua and Mariah McElhinney of Jacksonville; her sister, Rosina Cosgrove of Fairbanks, Alaska; her brothers- and sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Memorial gifts will benefit the Centenary United Methodist Church and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The Hagele and Honts Funeral Home in Morning Sun is providing the care and arrangements.

Condolences may be given and viewed at www.hageleandhonts.com.