Frances Helen “Fran” Best, 83, died August 9, 2020, at Sandstone Heights Nursing Home, Little River, Kansas. She was born September 25, 1936, in Hays, Kansas, the daughter of Alexander and Enid L. (Lambert) McKenna.
Fran graduated from Palco Rural High School in 1955, and took many courses throughout her lifetime at schools like, Barton County Community College, Parks School of Business, Colorado School of Mines, Hutchinson JUCO, Norriss Training, and Kansas State University.
A resident of Bushton since 1963, Fran was an assistant cashier at the Bushton State Bank for 28 years. She was a member of the United Methodist Church, Bushton, Kansas, where she was a former president of the United Methodist Women. Fran was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star, a past president of the FHA, a den mother for the Boy Scouts, and a reading tutor. Fran was a talented seamstress and always had her sewing kit on hand wherever she went. She enjoyed making baby dolls for children of her friends and even kiln fired her own porcelain dolls. She was also an avid jewelry collector, designer, and creator.
On November 6, 1958, she married Robert Ray “Bob” Best in Hutchinson, Kansas. He preceded her in death on September 22, 2017.
Survivors include; a sister, Barbara Bunch and husband Rusty of Kanopolis; brother-in-law, Harlan Best and wife Patti; two sisters-in-law, Patty Harman and husband Joe, and Judy Maxfield, all of Hutchinson; many nieces and nephews, including, niece, Susan Sanders and husband Brian of Giltner, Nebraska.
She was preceded in death by; her parents, Alexander and Enid L. McKenna; husband Bob; son, Curtis Ray Best; brothers, Billy Joe, Charley “Wayne”, Everett, and Robert McKenna; and sister, Margaret “Joan” McKenna.
Visitation will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday and Friday, and prior to service from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. at the funeral home.
Funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 15, 2020, at Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, with Pastor Diana Webster presiding. Inurnment will be in Kansas Veteran’s Cemetery, Wakeeney, at a later date.
Memorials are suggested to Claflin Ambulance or Bushton First Responders in care of Nicholson-Ricke Funeral Home, PO Box 146, Hoisington, KS 67544.