Frances J. Loewen

Frances (Francie) went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, March 15, 2014 after heart surgery at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Bellingham, Washington. She was surrounded by her loving family and friends.

Daughter of Frank F. Loewen and Jessie Peters Loewen, Francie was born in Chinook, Montana. Francie was six years old when her family moved to Lynden, Washington. She attended Lynden High School and became part of the Usher’s Club for several years. Lynden is a special place – it was here she met her childhood sweetheart; Harold J. Loewen and made many lifelong friends. Francie and Harold married on November 1, 1957. Francie also had a beautiful voice and sang with her church choir.

Francie began working as a meat wrapper at a Safeway store in Portland, Oregon in the 1970’s. Realizing her artistic talent could be more than a hobby she opened her own ceramic business in the early 1980’s. Francie created beautiful works of art. From painting ceramics, toll painting to crocheting and sewing, her passion and eye for beauty brought great joy to her and those around her.

In 1992, she moved to Marshalltown, Iowa where she worked again as a meat wrapper at a local grocery store. Then, in 1996 she returned to her hometown of Bellingham and worked in the bakery at Costco Wholesale, and then at the door as a greeter. She enjoyed her time with her customers and fellow employees. She retired in 2011.

When you spent time with Francie, you inevitably left with a smile on your face and a spring in your step. Her spirited nature was contagious and she never met a stranger that didn’t become her lifelong friend.

After retiring, she enthusiastically embraced the next chapter of her life. She loved to travel and most often ventured to visit family in Anchorage and Portland, and spent time with lifelong friends. She traveled to Hawaii and Canada, made many trips to the Oregon Coast, enjoyed motor home adventures with her son, Rick and daughter-in-law Donya in Alaska and travelled the “Lower 48” with her best friends John and Loretta.

Spending time in Portland with her daughter Deborah, son-in-law Timothy and her grandchildren Sarah, Stephanie and Jason brought great joy. She was always excited to watch her grandkids compete in their team sports and was (of course) an exuberant cheerleader and their biggest fan. She also delighted in shopping with her daughter Deborah at their favorite shops.

Francie is preceded in death by her brother, John Loewen and her sisters, Irene Hallingstad and Margaret Overcast. Francie is survived by her son, Rick Loewen and his wife, Donya from

Anchorage, Alaska; her daughter, Deborah Middleton and her husband, Timothy,

from Portland, Oregon; her daughter Melissa Ashley-Watson, from Elizabethton, Tennessee; her grandchildren, Sarah Middleton, Stephanie Middleton, Jason Middleton and Kiersten Ashley-Watson. She is also survived by her sister, Alice Dyck and her husband Butch Dyck from Bellingham, Washington and her many nieces and nephews in Washington and Montana.

Francie was a fun-loving, happy, energetic person. She loved to laugh, help others, and put a smile on the faces of those around her. Her quick smile, engaging personality, artistic ability, sense of humor and zest for life will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. One of Francie’s favorite sayings was, “Live Well, Laugh Much, Love Often.”

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:00pm on April 12, 2014 at Sunrise Baptist Church 2480 West Badger Rd, Custer, Washington 98240

In Lieu of flowers, donations to the American Heart Association would be greatly appreciated.