Funeral services were held Wednesday, Sept. 6, at Central Christian Church in Jefferson for Frances Louise Safley, 90, of Jefferson.
The Rev Sheldon Henderson, pastor of the church, offered words of comfort. Gary Haupert was soloist with Danille Curtis as soloist. Honorary bearers were Fran’s grandchildren Mie Safley, Jeff Safley, Mark Safley, Andrea Kemble, Matt Safley, Erin Drew, Jacob Safley, Stanton Safley, Sarah Borgeson, Liz Pierce, Mary Hinton and Bill Frederick.
Interment will be at a later date at the Franklin Township Cemetery in Cooper.
Frances Louise Schilling Safley was born March 16, 1927 at home in Greene County, IA. She was the daughter of Dewey and Grace (Harvey) Schilling. Frances died with her family by her side on Aug. 31, 2017, at Regency Park Nursing & Rehab Center in Jefferson at the age of 90 years.
Fran graduated from Cooper High School in 1944 and attended two years of college at the University of Iowa. She married Robert D. Safley on Sept. 8, 1946, in Jefferson. They were married an amazing 70 years. The couple lived and farmed southeast of Cooper. They became the parents of four children: Bob, Bill, Tom, and Ann. In 1974, Fran and Bob moved to Jefferson.
Fran was a homemaker, mother, and farm wife. She always had chocolate chip cookies and party mix on hand for her children and grandchildren. Fran enjoyed looking through magazines for ideas to help her children and grandchildren with 4-H projects. Fran was the head communicator for the Safley branch of the family keeping uncles, aunts, cousins informed about family activities and how they could be contacted. Fran hosted many family gatherings over the years.
As a farm wife, Fran was a true partner. She was familiar with driving tractors. She hauled countless wagons of corn to Jefferson. She endured many flat tires without a cell phone to call for help. She operated the corn picker for several years while her husband unloaded the ear corn into the corn cribs.
She always encouraged others. Fran enjoyed spending time quilting with Bob’s sisters. She made many, many quilts and she shared her quilts with many people. Fran had created more than 270 projects which included blankets, table runners and wall hangings, each of which were done with love. Fran also liked the challenge of doing stained glass work. She enjoyed family history. She loved the Cooper reunions – because she loved Cooper!
Through the years, Fran played a lot of bridge and belonged to a bridge club in Jefferson. She enjoyed square dancing, and golfing. She was a member of Central Christian Church in Jefferson. She was a member of Eastern Star, P.E.O., Culture Club, and a charter member of the Does. Fran liked looking at clouds, full moons and the recent solar eclipse. The favorite stars in Fran’s “galaxy” were her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Fran was preceded in death by her husband Robert; her parents; and one brother. She is survived by three sons, Bob (Connie) Safley of Linden, Bill (Holli) Safley of Peterson, and Tom (Lorna) Safley of Jefferson, her daughter Ann (Alan) Frederick of Jefferson, 12 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; her sisters Beatrice Freeman and Betty Larson of Jefferson, and Bonnie Blough of AZ; and other relatives and many friends.
Memorials are suggested to Jefferson Public Library, Central Christian Church, or Greene County 4-H Foundation.
Slininger-Schroeder Funeral Home of Jefferson is assisting the family.
