Obituary of Florice Frank

March 21, 2010, the lights dimmed, flickered and were extinguished on a remarkable woman. After a long and valiant struggle against Cancer, Florice Marie Frank passed away at her home in Chico, California. Her life was an amazing adventure. She was a wonderful and positive influence to an untold number of family and friends. Born on October 15, 1922, in Ladysmith, Wisconsin, Flo came west with her folks, Clyde and Mary Hebard, sister, Ilabess and brother, James in 1926. A year later her family moved to Hilt, California, where she was raised. She graduated from Yreka High School and attended Heald Business College in Sacramento. Flo married Kenneth L. Frank in 1942, while he was a pilot in the U. S. Air Force. They became parents of three boys and a girl as follows: Gregory K. (wife Mary), Marilyn K. (deceased), William F. (wife Kathy), and Kenneth L. (wife Marcie). Flo and Ken lived in Mt. Shasta from 1946 to 1948, where he was a teacher. After Ken returned to the Air Force, they moved often, starting with Lubbock, Texas, to Enid, Oklahoma, to Phoenix, Arizona, to the Philippines, to Lompoc, California, to Spokane, Washington, to Livermore, California and back to Yreka. In 1961, the family moved to Red Bluff. It was there when her husband was killed in an airplane accident. As a single parent, she raised four children and worked at a full-time job. In 1962, she was hired by the Klamath National Forest in Yreka, California, as the receptionist, later becoming a purchasing agent. Fifteen years later, Flo transferred to the Winema NF in Klamath Falls, Oregon as the forest Contracting Officer. She next went to the Lassen NF in Susanville, California with the same title and retired in 1985. She worked at various jobs in the U.S. Forest Service and was dispatched to many wildland fires throughout the West. After retirement, Flo and Gilbert Davies, her partner for many years, lived at Hat Creek, California from 1990 to 2008. She loved to host parties, which often included feeding large groups. Overnight guests were common. She co-owned a publishing company (HiStory Ink Books), which produced more than two dozen books from 1992 to 2007, selling thousands of copies throughout the United States. She was co-author or co-editor on most of them. Flo was an accomplished tennis player, swimmer, hiker, horseback rider, piano player and cook. She traveled extensively throughout Canada and the United States in various motorhomes. In her travels she yearned to learn, see new sights and experience new adventures, such as ballooning, exploring caves (20 plus) and white water kayaking and rafting. She traversed numerous wilderness areas by horseback or backpack and fished in many streams and lakes. Besides her four children, Flo had eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and one great-great-grand child. Throughout her full life she knew a multitude of people who called her a true friend. Her legacy will live on. Graveside Services will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Yreka, CA at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, March 29, 2010. A Reception immediately follows at the Yreka Elks Lodge, where finger foods will be available. Anyone wishing to give a donation to a charitable cause in her name, might want to consider Hospice, either Enloe in Chico or Madrone in Yreka.