Frances May Crane Carothers, Edgerton, WI  (1923 - 2013)

February 21, 1923 - January 26, 2013
Frances May Crane Carothers, 89, of Edgerton, passed away Saturday afternoon at the Edgerton Hospital with a contingent of family members by her side. Frances was born on Feb. 21, 1923, at the Pine Knob Inn in Canadensis, PA, the daughter of the late George W. and Alice May (Williams) Crane. Frances met William Carothers of the Wisconsin Dells area, at a dance when he was on a short leave from the Navy during World War II. Bill and Fran married and their first two children, Sharon and Roland, were born and, then, they moved to the Edgerton and Busseyville area, where they lived for many years. After Bill's retirement, they moved to Elroy, WI, where they lived for a number of years before returning to Edgerton, to the Elm Drive Apartments. For the past 8 years, Fran has resided at the Edgerton Care Center, where she was provided with excellent care. Frances was a stay at home Mom for most of her life, but provided child care for a number of young children over the years. Fran had been a Ladies Auxiliary member of the V.F.W. and Disabled American Veterans. Fran was a member of the Busseyville Community Church and the Ladies Aid. She was a member of the Edgerton Wrestling Club and a charter member of the Cuzzins Camping group. We feel that the character "Aunt Bea" was modeled after Mom; and as we grew up, we never heard her utter a swear word or say a bad word about anyone. She wasn't just a Mother to us eight kids, but she was a Mother to our Husbands and Wives and to so many of our Dear Friends.
Frances is survived by her eight children: Sharon (Joe) Thew of Mauston, WI, Roland (Diane) of Fort Atkinson, WI, Dale of Emigrant Gap, CA, William, Jr. (Deborah) of Cumberland, WI, Dennis (Jo) of Edgerton, Sylvia Falk of Milton, WI, Bonnie Rosas of Richland Center, WI, and Jeff (Cathy) of Yacolt, WA; in-laws: Edna Crane of Stroudsburg, PA, Norma (Charles) Wagonner of Toledo, OH, and Betty Douse of FL; 28 grandchildren; 31 great-grandchildren; and all of the other family and friends that she loved so dearly. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bill on Oct. 1, 2002; son-in-law, Arthur Thew; granddaughter, Devonne Starks; siblings: Helen Carlton, Dorothy Kresge, Jean Miller, Wallace Crane, Milton Crane, Robert Crane and David Crane; in-laws, Hank and Mona Petersen, Roland "Bud" Carothers, and Al Carothers.
Funeral services will be held at Noon on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013, at the EHLERT FUNERAL HOME, US 51 S, Edgerton, with Rev. Richard Lewis officiating. Burial will be in the Fassett Cemetery. Friends may call at the FUNERAL HOME, on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, from 4 until 8 p.m. and on Thursday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to the Edgerton Care Center or the Busseyville Church, in Frances's name. Condolences may be expressed at ehlertfuneralhome.com