Born September 27, 1921, in Rowley, AB, died June 27, 2017, in Vernon, BC. Pre-deceased by husband Jack, parents Walter and Bernice Jervis and siblings Lillian, Audrey, Norman and Russell.
Fran was raised on a farm in Rowley, AB. She often told us of how, on horseback, she would race the train to the crossing, as it pulled out of town - until, that is, she was caught and got into trouble ... After high school, she lived and worked in Calgary, where she joined the RCAF Women’s Division in 1943. She served on British Commonwealth Air Training Plan bases and took from that experience a life-long fear of young pilots and small airplanes. In 1949 she moved to McBride, BC, marrying John ‘Jack’ Long in 1952. They moved to the farm in 1961, and that is where she lived until moving to Vernon in 2012. She loved horses, cats, dogs, people, horses, music, horses, bling, and horses. She was an accomplished horsewoman who trained many horses and many kids to ride them. She was a gifted amateur singer who loved singing hymns but also had a considerable repertoire of bawdy ditties. She was a life-long member and supporter of the United Church of Canada, playing the organ, singing at multitudes of weddings and funerals and working on behalf of the church. Mind you, having to do some cowboying or attending a gymkhana did take precedence over church attendance, and she had a liberal view of the dictum to ‘take a little wine for thy stomach’s sake’. She will be long and fondly remembered by sister Fay McCready, children Donna (Alex), Betty, Ken (Susan), grandchildren David, Sandra, Tracy (Dave), Shane, great grandchildren Jennifer (Devon), Rae (Derrick) and Sadie and a wealth of extended family and friends.
The family would like to sincerely thank the Staff at Carrington for making the last five years of Mom’s life a very memorable one. She made many special friends there. They also want to thank Dr. Chris Cunningham for taking Mom as a patient and taking such good care of her.
A memorial service will be held at the McBride Evangelical Free Church,135 Lonsdale Street, McBride, BC, on Saturday August 5th 2017 at 2:00 pm. In lieu of flowers people may donate to a horse rescue organization or a charity of their choice.