Frances May Brown (nee: Jackson) born in Bala, Ontario, February 11, 1924. Died peacefully at Belvedere Heights, Parry Sound, Ontario on October 1st, 2014 at the age of 90 years.

Daughter of Lorne and Mabel Jackson. Survived by her sister, Marion Jackson of Hobbs, New Mexico. Married Alex Pierce Brown (deceased) on September 19, 1953. Fran’s paternal grandmother, nee Euphemia Burgess, was a daughter of Thomas W. Burgess, who was the founder of Bala, having arrived there in 1868. Her mother, nee Mable Yeomans, was the daughter of the Reverend G. A. Yeomans, a former minister of Bala United Church. Fran spent her youth in Bala, attending primary school there and high school in Gravenhurst. She trained as a nurse at the Woman’s College Hospital in Toronto. Fran was awarded a scholarship in Obstetrical Nursing at the New York Hospital in New York which was affiliated with Cornel University. She worked for a while in British Columbia then came back to Ontario, where she worked in a number of hospitals before settling at the Parry Sound District Hospital for close to 40 years. Eventually, Fran was appointed the Director of Nursing for the Obstetrical ward. It’s not hard to estimate that Fran was present at well over 7,000 births, and the figure could be closer to 14,000 but she never kept count. Fran was a very active member of the Eastern Star. She was a Past District Deputy Grand Matron, a Worthy Matron, and a Grand Ruth. In 1972, she was elected a Life Member of the Parry Sound Chapter.

Funeral Service to be held at Bala United Church on Saturday, October 11th at 11:00 A.M. Private interment at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to The Youth Music Education Fund at the Festival of the Sound, or Bala United Church.