On June 1, 1923, Frances Ruth Geenen was welcomed into this world by her parent Arlen and Allie Vaughn as well as two older sisters, Beth and Martha. Seven years later she was joined by her beloved baby brother Avery. The family lived in McMinn, Tennessee, until relocating to California.

Frances met Robert A. Geenen Jr. while living in Tulare, California. They were married on Jan. 11, 1939, and spent 56 years together before her beloved Bob passed away on Oct. 10, 1995.

The early years of Fran and Bob’s marriage were played out under the drama of World War II. Bob was stationed in South Africa as a mechanic for the Army Air Corps. During this time Fran and her young son, Howard, were surrounded by her parents and siblings in the Porterville, California, area.

After the war Fran and Bob’s son Bobby was born. Later the couple moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon, and a few years later the couple bought property at Cocolalla, Idaho, and their sons, Mike and Mark were born.

The couple lived in the Cocolalla Lake area for many years and were members of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Sandpoint, Idaho. During that time, they raised Arabian horses and Bob supported the family by working for Northern Lights Electric Cooperative.

The couple’s children loved sports and Fran enjoyed a good football, basketball or baseball game. She also loved music and played guitar. After she lost Bob, she relocated to the Reno, Nevada, area and spent her last years living with Mark and Connie. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, sons Howard and Michael, brother Avery, and sisters Martha and Beth.

Those still left behind to mourn her loss but celebrate the wonderful life she lived are Bobby and Stacey Geenen, Mark and Connie Geenen and daughter-in-law LeNora Geenen. There are nine grandchildren, Brandy Geenen, Danette Geenen, Dan Geenen, Howard Geenen, Darian Geenen, J.J. Geenen, Rob Geenen, Jessica Slagle and Beth McElwain, as well as four step-grandchildren, Danny and J.T., Brian and Matthew DiPietro. She had 32 great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren.

Gravesite services will be held at Pinecrest Memorial Cemetery in Sandpoint on Saturday, December 15, 2018, at 10:00 AM. A viewing will be held at Coffelt’s Funeral Home on Friday, the 14th beginning at 4:00 PM, with a Vigil Rosary Service following at 7:30 PM Officiated by Father Dennis C. Day.

Family and friends are invited to sign Frances’s online guestbook at coffeltfuneral.com

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.