IN MEMORIAM

EXPANDED EULOGIES

Frances McRae

A remembrance ceremony for Frances Ileen (Seitz) McRae, 93, will be scheduled later to allow all of her family to attend.

Beloved matriarch of her family, she passed from this world into the loving hands of her Father on Sept. 2, 2022.

Fran was born at home to Friedrich “Fred” Seitz and Martha (Ollek) Seitz Spremberg and was raised on farms near Lehigh.

Later in life, Fran recounted growing up in the Depression, sharing stories about hoboes, dust storms, grasshopper invasions, the doodlebug train, teaching in a one-room schoolhouse, and electricity being strung to the farm.

Her dream of living in the “big city” of Topeka became reality and, thanks to a blind date, she met Derrell McRae. It was love at first sight. They married Oct. 3, 1946.

With two young children, yet never afraid of a little hard work, Fran and Derrell built their dream home, which still is lived in by family today.

Over the years, Fran had several jobs but was most proud of her 38 years working for and with teachers at Topeka Teachers Association, NEA-T, and Kansas NEA.

In her later life, Fran embraced traveling and had fond memories of her travel companions, friends she met, and the places she traveled to. Thank you, friends, family, and PrimeTimers who made the trips special!

A favorite family picture is of Fran in Gibraltar, where a monkey decided to climb up and sit on her shoulder.

Fran’s faith was a cornerstone of who she was and what she stood for. Throughout her life, and through trials that occurred, she always said that her faith lifted her up when she was struggling.

Fran was a member of Faith Lutheran Church.

She is survived by her sister, Doris Stubby; her daughter, Karen, and son-in-law Rodney Light; and her granddaughters, Keeya Thompson, Jennifer Light, and Tracy Hirt and Tracy’s husband, Travis.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Derrell McRae; her brother, LeRoy Seitz; her sisters, Ruby Pool and Norma Young; and her oldest daughter, Jean Thompson Cloud.

While Fran is missed terribly, her presence can still be felt in the traits that she passed onto the family, including her strength in times of trial and her warm and generous heart.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any gifts be made to Faith Lutheran Church in Topeka.

To leave a message for the family online, please visit www.DoveTopeka.com.