Frances Ann (Elledge) Wall Giessmann

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. -- Frances Ann (Elledge) Wall Giessmann died Monday, Dec. 22, 2008 in Oklahoma City, Okla.

Fran was born Feb. 8, 1918, in Noel, Mo., to Charles Wesley and Ethel B (Sanders) Elledge. She attended school in Noel and Parsons, graduating from Parsons High School in 1935 and Parsons Junior College in 1938. On Aug. 1, 1942, she married Ned Emerson Wall, who gave his life in the service of his country on Sept. 17, 1943, in Italy during World War II.

On June 16, 1946, she married George Karl Giessmann Jr. Their marriage produced three sons, William Douglas "Bill", born Oct. 22, 1947; John David "Jack", born Feb. 14, 1949; and Gary Lee, born Oct. 26, 1952. Fran and Karl were divorced in 1975. After raising her children, she moved to Southwest City, Mo., to care for her parents and brother, and lived there for nearly 20 years before relocating back to Oklahoma to be closer to her family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her sisters, Minnie Maxine Elledge and Margaret Ailene Wesche; and her brother, Norman Eagleton Elledge.

Fran is survived by her son Bill and daughter-in-law Kim of Muscle Shoals, Ala.; her son Jack and daughter-in-law Nenita of Miami, Fla.; and her son Gary and daughter-in-law Ladonna of Oklahoma City; a cousin, Betty Lee Kiethley of Jay, Okla.; six grandchildren, John-David Giessmann II, Christopher Giessmann, Gregory Giessmann, Douglas Giessmann, Jennifer Giessmann and Charles Giessmann; and two great-grandchildren, Emily and Rachel Giessmann. She is also survived by an extended family of very special people, Pat Giessmann (whose care of Fran during her final illness was greatly appreciated by the family), Lisa and Paige Portwood, Barry Payne, Kara Creswell and Kendra Valli, Kristin and Michael Sackett and family and Natalie Young.

Fran will be remembered as a loving, wise and caring woman who had a deep affection for family and friends, and who lived a life of humility, selflessness and frugality. She was a voluminous reader and delighted in sharing stories of her youth. She edited and preserved family histories written by her father and was always thoughtful enough to add notations to the margins of those histories, and other books she read, to add facts or details that she felt were important. She loved the Ozarks and her frequent explorations through the back woods by car with her friends. Among her many pages of family history, she wrote one brief note about her own life. She wrote "Busy mother -- wife -- cook -- housecleaner -- laundress -- nurse -- Den Mother -- Sunday School teacher -- PTA -- School home room mother -- chauffeur. And wish I could do it all over! I think I would do much better." Her family disagrees, and feels she did it all with dedication and excellence. She was a wonderful mother who was always there for her family and she will be deeply missed.

In keeping with her wishes, no immediate services will be held. Following cremation, her family will join together in the Ozarks at a future date for a celebration of her life.