IN MEMORIAM: Frances Foster Smith, 95;
Helped Parents Run Fly Creek General Store
FLY CREEK – Frances Marion (Foster) Smith, a Fly Creek native, retired banker and real-estate agent, passed away Tuesday. She was 95 and resided at the Presbyterian Home in New Hartford.
Born on March 31, 1919, in her parents’ Fly Creek home, Frances shared her childhood with her older sister, Ferne. They helped their parents, Glenn and Florence (Williams) Foster, in operating the Fly Creek General Store.
After graduating from Cooperstown High, Class of 1936, Fran completed her degree at Utica School of Commerce and worked for Elmore’s Feed Store in Oneonta for a number of years. During this time, she met her future husband, Fred N. Smith, and they were married after he returned in 1946 from active duty in the Marine Corps. They enjoyed life and family for 59 years.
Upon the death of her mother in 1949, they left Fly Creek, the couple moved to West Winfield where Fred was in partnership in the Smith’s Famous Sausage & Hamburg business. Fran became active in the firemen’s auxiliary and held many church offices while raising their two children, Linda and Larry.
Her desire to return to work led her to the Oneida National Bank in West Winfield and eventually she was made manager of the Sauquoit branch of Norstar Bank. She retired after 28 years in the banking business.
Not idle for long, she was asked to sell real estate for Century 21 and joined Nunno’s Real Estate in Utica. She also researched her family background and became a proud member of the DAR.
Fran finally retired for good in her late seventies and divided her time with her daughter, Linda, and son-in-law Bill Pickens in Morris, and her son, Larry, his wife, Stacy and grandsons, Cameron and Matthew in Clermont, Fla.
On special occasions she would travel to St. Thomas, Virgin Islands to see her granddaughter, Kimberly, her husband, Dean Cole and great-grandchildren Amanda and Jack. Her grandson, Steven Salisbury, his wife Sonya and great-granddaughters Olivia and Abigail made frequent visits from Grafton, Mass., and made her 95th birthday extra special. We were all together for Christmas 2013.
Also surviving Fran is a special niece, Anne Warren, and her family in Oneonta. Her nephew, Robert Cleaveland, predeceased her.
Fran’s friendly nature and easy compatibility made her a success in life. Her great apple pie was enjoyed by many and she was always ready for a game of “pitch” – these attributes helped make her house a home.
A memorial service is planned at noon Monday, Nov. 24, at the West Winfield Federated Church. Arrangements are with the Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral Home, West Winfield, NY.
For online expression of sympathy go to www.dfwefh.com
In lieu of flowers, please donate to Federated Church, 452 East Main St., West Winfield, NY 13491.
Arrangments are entrusted to Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams & Edmunds Funeral Homes.