Traverse City - Frances G. (Carroll) McCaw passed away Sunday August 19, 2012 at Traverse Manor Assisted Living.
Frances was born on May 26, 1923 on the family cherry farm on Old Mission Peninsula. "Honey" as she was known fondly to most was the fifth and youngest child of William and Mabel (Bopry) Carroll. Frances graduated from St. Francis High School. In February of 1948, she married the late Leo McCaw, her husband of 63 years and together they raised four children.
Always sweet, gentle, fun and content Frances was a patient wife, mother and grandmother who was devoted to her husband, children and grandchildren. She sacrificed and gave generously to others and was a joy to everyone who knew her. She happily hosted and enjoyed many large family gatherings that included food, music and games.
Over the years, Frances worked a number of job and retired from Munson Medical Center in 1985. She enjoyed an active retirement in Traverse City and Zephyr Hills, Florida. Naturally talented she loved to play the piano and keyboard and taught line dancing to others in Traverse City and Florida. She was also a talented artist and leaves behind many watercolor and oil paintings as well as mosaics and needlepoint for her family to enjoy. Accomplished at knitting, she spent hours happily knitting for her grandchildren when they were young.
Frances leaves behind and will be greatly missed by her four children Carol (Robb) Gass, Timothy (Beverly) McCaw, William (Judy) McCaw, and Kathryn (Greg) Bush; six grandchildren Melissa (Tim) McGuire, Lisa (Nikhil) Bagadia, Christine (Chad) DeVille, Jeremy Gass, David (Kristie) McCaw, and Jesse Gass; nine great grandchildren Brenna and Ian McGuire, Avner and Isla Bagadia, Camden, Lauren, and Amelia Deville and Liam and Connor McCaw. She is survived by one sister Faye Alpers.
Frances was preceded in death by her husband Leo McCaw, her siblings and their spouses, Raymond (Wilhelmina) Carroll, Irene (Carl) Muehling and Elsie (Donald) O'Connor as well as her brother-in-law Robert Alpers.
Cremation has taken place and no services are planned at this time per Frances' wishes. Her family will gather privately to honor and celebrate her life.
The family would like to thank the staff at Traverse Manor and Hospice of Michigan for their kind and compassionate care of our mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. During her 18 months at Traverse Manor she was treated like family by her "angels" and we appreciate everything they have done for her and her family.
The family is being served by Reynolds Jonkhoff Funeral Home and Cremation Services.