Frances "Fran" E. Ely, 70, died peacefully on Aug. 28, 2022, at the French Manor Terra, with family by her side. She was born April 3, 1952, in Traverse City, Michigan, the daughter of James Louis and Ellen Frances (Akers) Kyselka.
Fran graduated from Manton High School, Class of 1970. She married Leo Burton Ely, and they celebrated 50 years of marriage before his death in Jan of 2021. Together they had three children: Jerry, Tina, and Bobbie. Fran loved learning, and while raising her three children, she earned her private pilot license in 1996 and her associate degree in Accounting at Northwestern Michigan College in 2000. She ahs had many hobbies throughout her life, including cake decorating, knitting, scrapbooking, computers and camping. But one true passion of hers was sewing. She sewed all her life, from quilt and garment making, upholstering furniture, boats, and campers to machine embroidery. She finally had a dream sewing space later in life.
She is survived by her sisters, Rita Jayne Kyselka and Deanna Ruth (Kyselka) Borodayko; and her children, Jerry Lee Ely, Tina Marie (Ely) Copeland, and Bobbie Jean (Ely) Crider; she also has six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A graveside memorial will take place on Sept. 18, at 1 p.m., at Clark Cemetery adn a Celebration of Life will directly follow at 6361 Walton Rd, Kingsley, MI.
Beacon Cremation & Funeral Service, Covell Traverse City Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
