Obituary of Frances H Wiley
Frances Melvina Hudson Mensinger Harkey Wiley passed from this earth on January 12, 2019, eager to move on. She was born on July 16, 1920 to Frank and Martha Hudson of Modesto, CA. This baby sister joined her two older brothers, Loren and Harold (Bud) Hudson. After skipping a grade, she graduated from Modesto High School in 1937.
During her long and active life, she married and survived three “lovely men” (her words): John Mensinger, William K. Harkey and Donald Wiley. She is survived by her children, Barbara Harkey Fitzpatrick of Vancouver, WA, William H. Harkey of Mechanicsburg, PA and George Wiley, stepson, of San Diego, CA; granddaughter Allyson Harkey of Hyattsville, MD and nieces Karyn Dawson of Escalon, CA and Linda Cover of Modesto, CA. She is also survived by Linus, her paranoid cat and Bogart, her adorable dog.
One of the last living members of the Greatest Generation, she represented it well: strong, fiercely independent, defiantly loyal and proudly patriotic. All these qualities were evident up to the day she died.
Fran loved giving parties and at some events she cooked for over 100 people. Those parties were legendary. She wasn’t a cook, but rather a talented, creative chef. She didn’t just put them on, she produced culinary events. These events included family birthdays, hosting huge motor home rallies, pheasant club lunches, entertaining ladies at Bridge Club and hosting the coaches’ party after the GIBT each year. A friend, after helping Bill and Fran with a financial matter, asked that his fee be paid by an open invitation to the annual Harkey Christmas night celebration.
Later in life, Fran joined the Moose and enjoyed their Friday night dinners. It was at the Moose that she met and later married Donald Wiley. Their wedding celebration was held at the Moose and sadly, Friends attended a celebration of Donald’s life there fourteen months later.
Fran was a founding member of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church and served on the vestry for a number of years. During that time, St. Timothy’s went from meeting at the Block Funeral Home to the church building located at 410 Jackson St., in Gridley. A memorial service will be held there on Thursday, January 24 at 10am, officiated by Fr. John Harris. Private interment will be in the Gridley Biggs Cemetery next to her two favorite husbands, Bill Harkey and Donald Wiley. En lieu of flowers, the family suggests your favorite charity.
The Harkey family is grateful for the tender care our mother received from the nurses and staff at the Gridley Hospital. We felt lucky to have her there in her final days.
The family also thanks Marilyn Clausen, caregiver, for her loyalty and commitment to Fran during her last 5 ½ years. It was a huge task to care for this fierce woman and we appreciate her steadfast devotion to our mother. Her heroic efforts were a great help to Mom at the end of her life.
Arrangements entrusted to Gridley-Block Funeral Chapel, 530-846-2138.
