Fran Blackwell

Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Fran Blackwell

Frances "Fran" E. Blackwell, 65, of Glenns Ferry, died Thursday, Oct. 18, 2007, at her home.

Private family services will be held at a later date. Cremation was under the direction of Rost Funeral Home, McMurtrey Chapel.

Fran was born on Feb. 21, 1942, in Yerington, Nev., to James and Vera Whitlock. Fran was schooled in Nevada and Idaho.

In 1959, while living in Oceanside, Calif., she met and married Wayne Best, together they had three children. While living in Oceanside, Frances was a lead checker at Albertson for over ten years and an avid bowler.

In 1977 the family moved to Glenns Ferry.

Following her divorce from Wayne, she married Samuel Blackwell in 1979. Her union to Sam developed her love for paint horses and cattle.

Even though the hours and work were hard she loved the ranch life, her family said. "She became well know for bottle feeding calves from sun up to sun down." In 1984 her granddaughter Kendra was born "and that changed Fran’s whole life. Kendra enjoyed spending time on the ranch with her 'Mema and Papa'."

In 1992, she and Sam divorced.

Fran was a 4-H leader and she was on the Elmore County Fair Board for 12 years. She was an avid NASCAR fan and loved to collect NASCAR memorabilia. "Fran loved her family, her grand and great-grand children as well as her animals," her family said. "She was deeply loved by her family and will be greatly missed."

Fran is survived by: her son, Timothy Best of Glenns Ferry; her son, Anthony Best of San Diego, Calif.; Kimberly Portlock of Glenns Ferry, eight grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren (and one additional one the way).

She was preceded in death by her parents, brother Bob Whitelock, and her son-in-law, Jerry Portlock Jr.