Passed away the morning of June 24, 2011, marking the peaceful end to a long and loving life.

A funeral service will be held at 10 o'clock in the morning on Saturday, July 23, 2011, at St. Pius X Catholic Church in Coeur d'Alene, with refreshments to follow at the church. Frances will be buried alongside her husband in St. Mary's Cemetery in Missoula next summer on a date to be determined.

Born Mary Frances Flynn on May 2, 1914, she was the eldest child of John and Mary Helterline Flynn of Missoula, Mont. Both her father and mother were elected to serve as Missoula County Commissioner, and her brother, Elmer, served in the Montana State Senate, instilling in Frances a lifelong love of politics.

In true Flynn family form, she was a devoted Irish Catholic Democrat throughout her life. Frances graduated from Sacred Heart Academy, then left the Flynn Ranch to attend North Western Business College in Spokane. She moved to Moscow after graduating, where she met Raymond McQuade. They were married in September 1939 and had one son, James.

Frances worked for many years, first at the Latah County Court House and then at the Latah County Title Company. Even after her supposed retirement, she returned to work at Moscow Florist - a job she enjoyed for its combination of flowers and interesting antiques.

After living in Moscow for six decades, in 1998 she moved to Bainbridge Island, Wash., to be closer to her son and his family. When they moved to Spokane, Frances returned to Idaho and lived at Heritage Place in Coeur d'Alene, and then at Legends Park. Her many moves later in life only highlighted her social nature, and ability to put everyone around her at ease.

She was an avid bridge player as well as an excellent storyteller, often regaling younger generations with stories of life on the ranch.

Frances was preceded in death by her husband, Ray; brothers John and Elmer Flynn; sister Kathleen McKinnon and son Jim (married to Lynne Brenner of Pullman, Wash.).

Her sister, Pat Sinclair of Coeur d'Alene, survives her, as do a number of nieces and nephews to whom Frances was very close. She is also survived by her four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren: Kelly (Marla) Malone of Seattle and son Patrik, Hayley (Jeff) Burgin of Spokane and daughters Catherine and Calleigh, Gabriela McQuade of Washington, D.C., and Elizabeth McQuade of Seattle.