Frances Ann Ibbotson McElhinney (1943 - 2017)

MCELHINNEY, IBBOTSON, VANCE, INGHRAM

Posted By: Pamela Wagler
Date: 1/5/2022 at 12:45:36

The Gazette
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
July 26, 2017

Frances Ann McElhinney

Frances A. McElhinney, age 74, of Morning Sun, Iowa, died peacefully at her home with her husband by her side after a courageous battle with leukemia on Tuesday, July 25, 2017. A celebration of life will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 31, at Centenary United Methodist Church in Morning Sun. officiated by the Rev. Carl Benge. A visitation with the family meeting friends will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the church.

Fran was born on January 26, 1943 to Alice Vance and Myron Ibbotson in Burlington. She was raised in rural New London, and attended school there. She graduated from Burlington High School. Fran married Richard McElhinney on February 10, 1968 in Burlington. Fran and Dick enjoyed raising their children Shawn and Dave in Morning Sun. She worked for 36 years at the Iowa State Bank where she was vice president and cashier and worked on loans, IRA’s, and the bank’s accounting. Her attention to the customers’ needs was foremost in her career. She was a member of the Board of Directors and served on the Loan Committee.

Fran enjoyed time spent with her husband, Dick, going to antique car shows with their 1955 Chrysler car, Rosie. She loved spending time with her children and her grandchildren which she adored. She delighted in each of their unique personalities and interests. Fran’s grandchildren were loved unconditionally, prayed for daily and spoiled by her whenever she could. Each of them brought her great joy. This April, Fran and Dick treated the entire family to a vacation at Disney World as an early celebration of their 50th anniversary which would have been this February 10, 2018.

Fran was very active in her church with the ‘Good News Club’ being among her favorite activities. She was also involved in the American Legion Auxiliary. She enjoyed country western dancing. She was honored as the 2016 Citizen of the Year by the Morning Sun community of which she loved and was thankful for all the support the people of Morning Sun gave her and her family during her illness.

Her survivors include her husband, Dick, her daughter, Shawn (Steve) Inghram of Cedar Rapids; her son, Dave (Dawne) McElhinney of Jacksonville, N.C.; seven grandchildren, Kate (Eric) Nelson of Minnetonka, Minn., Mike and Jake Inghram of Cedar Rapids and Michelle, Joshua and Mariah McElhinney of Jacksonville; her sister, Rosina Cosgrove of Fairbanks, Alaska; her brothers and sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews and their families.

She was preceded in death by her parents.