Mary Frances Bolton died at home in Huntington, Indiana, on June 14th. "Fran" was born in Franklin, Kentucky, July 27, 1942, to Mamie Irene Holmes Meador and Joseph Herbert Meador. She had 4 older brothers, Everett, Jim, Bill and Charlie. The family migrated to the Indianapolis, Indiana area in the mid 40s. She spent her formative years in the Greenwood area.
She graduated from Whiteland High School in 1960, then married Fred D Kattau. That year, they had their first child. She worked at Eli Lilly while Fred's mother watched the baby. When the family moved to Merrillville in 1964, there were three children, Suzanne, David, and Cyndi. By 1968 the family was in Fort Wayne, and Fran worked part time in the record and book department of JC Penney. She came home and taught the kids an appreciation for the J Geils Band and Blood Sweat and Tears, among many others. She loved Johnny Mathis!
In 1977 they added a fourth child, Kara, to the family. In 1980 Fred and Fran divorced amicably, remaining dear friends until Fred’s death in 2021. In 1986 she married Ed Bolton and in 1991 they moved to Arkansas where she taught line dancing. After her marriage to Ed ended, she met the love of her life, James Woods, known to some as “Pooch” and others as “Jimbo”. They were together for over 20 years, traveling all over North America, until his death in 2019.
Fran liked being the Cool Mom and unofficially adopted many of her kids’ friends while they were growing up. She taught her children what empathy for others means. She always loved floating in the family swimming pool. She was a Brownie leader, a Cub Scout leader and a Girl Scout leader. She was crafty, refinishing furniture and knitting afghans, among many other projects. She loved puzzles, both in the newspaper and on a table. She was a voracious reader and welcomed learning new things. She enjoyed current events. She danced like a butterfly. She liked a good scotch. She loved camping and walking in the woods. She talked to strangers and had a sharp wit. You'd be fortunate to have her as a euchre partner. She was a talented bowler right up til her last days. She still rode a bike and took evening strolls. She was a fiercely strong, independent woman, who never suffered fools well.
Fran will be sorely missed by her family, friends, and neighbors, and by the Friday Seniors at Rainbow Lanes.
She is survived by her four children, Teresa Suzanne Kattau, David Joseph Kattau (and Rhonda), Cynthia Marie Burch and Kara Diane Miller. She was Grammy to 12 grandkids: Alex and Travis Dykes, Ethan Kattau, Chloe Kattau, Victoria Ramseyer, Kady Beers, Eden Kilcoin, Levi and Maxwell Burch, Gabriel, Charlie and Delilah Miller; great grandchildren: Abigail, Parker and Luca Dykes, Everett and Winnie Ramseyer, Xavier Williams-Talamantes and 2 on the way, whom she will sadly never get to meet.
A celebration of her life will be held later, privately. If you'd like to help others in Fran's name, the family recommends your local animal shelter or public library, or AcresLandTrust.org.