Frances E. Olson

Frances Evelyn Olson, 91, of Bowie Maryland, passed away on the morning of June 6th, 2023 at Autumn Lake Healthcare in Crofton, Maryland. She was under the care of Hospice of the Chesapeake at the time of her passing. Frances was born on April 16th, 1932 in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of Leslie and Ruth (Willis) Olson. She was known to her family and friends as “Francie” or “Fran”

Surviving are cousins: James (Faye) Willis of Dexter, Missouri; Mona Swinderman of Kewanee, Illinois and second cousins: Paul Willis of New Orleans, Louisiana; Ryan (Michelle) Ericson of Normal, Illinois; Jesse and Zach Swinderman of Champaign, Illinois and Mark Goethe of Bettendorf, Iowa. She is also survived by her closest friend, Wanda (Walter) Gould of Prince Frederick, Maryland and a friend of the family, Tim Wilson of Davenport, Iowa.

She was preceded in death by both parents, her sister Shirley (Wayne) Taylor and one nephew, Tom Taylor, both of Owosso, Michigan. She was also preceded in death by her close cousin, Nancy (Dave) Modder of Galva, Illinois and her favorite aunt, Irma (James) Willis of Kewanee, Illinois.

Francie graduated from Kewanee High School in 1950. She was one of the original softball players that formed the Kewanee Merchanettes, which later became the Kewanee Ballhawks. She was an outstanding first baseman and a southpaw at bat and wore number 9. She played for the team when they won their first of 5 State Championships in 1956 and when they won a 2nd Championship in 1958. That same year, she entered the Franciscan Convent in Springfield, Illinois to practice psychiatric nursing after graduating from St. Ambrose University.

After leaving the Convent, she joined the Air Force in 1972 and served on Active Duty for 20 years, both stateside and overseas in the Philippines. Her last duty station was Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland, where she continued practicing psychiatric nursing. Francie received numerous awards, including the prestigious Meritorious Service Award. Upon attaining the rank of Major, she retired from Active Duty and transitioned to Civil Service for 18 years, where she also worked in the field as an addiction therapist, a diabetes educator and a pediatric nurse at Andrews Air Force Base, retiring in March of 2010. Her career choice reflected how she lived her life, always caring and giving to others.

Some of Francie’s passions included following the St. Louis Cardinals baseball team, reading several newspapers each day, to include The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and the New York Times, completing their Sunday crossword puzzles weekly. She was an avid runner and a prodigious amateur photographer, capturing the milestones of many family and friends’ lives as well as numerous photos of her pets and flowers in her garden. Everyone certainly has a “Francie" memory of being asked to pose for that perfect shot. Francie loved all animals and wildlife and she enjoyed feeding and watching the “critters”, as she called them, gather in her backyard every day. She was a member of the Red Hat Club of Silver Spring, Maryland and enjoyed their many outings. She was also a member of St. Edwards Catholic Church of Bowie, Maryland. Francie lived a very independent life, living on her own terms at her home in Bowie until the very last weeks of her life. May you Rest in Peace, Old No. 9

A Celebration of Francie’s Life will be held at a later date in Kewanee, Illinois. She will be laid to rest in the family plot in Mt. Olivet Cemetery. Father Chris Haake will officiate. Military Rites will be accorded by the Kewanee Veterans Council. Please leave an online condolence for Frances' family at www.golnickschuenemanfh.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials in her honor may be directed to the Henry County Humane Society: http://hchskewaneeshelter.org/donate—monetary.html

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