By Kay Schritter
Frances Leona (Wright) Nally passed away peacefully at the age of 89 on Feb. 13, at her home in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Frances was born on Jan. 10, 1935, in Hales Point, Tennessee to Robert Kelcie and Lucille (James) Wright. Like most children raised during the Great Depression, her family moved around while her father searched for work to support his family. Over the years the family spent time in Iowa, Missouri and Illinois, but the majority of her childhood was spent in Tennessee living near or with her paternal grandparents. In 1942 her father was sent to Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada to help build the ALCAN highway, and was later assigned to Attu Island, Aleutian Islands, Alaska. In 1946 after WWII ended, Frances, her younger sister, Elizabeth, and their mother moved to Attu. Later, the family moved to Adak before relocating to Naknek Air Base (later renamed King Salmon AFB) near Bristol Bay. The family made their home in King Salmon/Naknek working, commercial fishing and homesteading for many years.
In 1954, at the age of 19, Frances met the love of her life, Sidney (Sid) L. Nally, while he was stationed at King Salmon Air Force Base as an Air Policeman. The couple were married on Oct. 1, 1955, after Sid completed his military service. They made their home in King Salmon, where Sid eventually went to work for the CAA (now the Federal Aviation Administration).
In August 1956, at the age of 21, Frances was appointed as the second postmaster of King Salmon PO, assuming that role after the death of her mother, who was the first postmaster of King Salmon Post Office. Frances served as postmaster until June 1961. The family moved to Annette Island in January 1964 for Sid’s work. In August 1967 Sid was transferred to Cape Yakataga, and in January of 1969 the family moved to Cordova where she worked at Davis Super Foods. They left Alaska in July 1974 and settled in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Through the years Frances made a living as a postmaster, commercial fisherwoman, sales clerk, and bookkeeper. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, crafting, crocheting, and thrift-store shopping. She was also an avid genealogist – spending countless hours researching family histories for every member (new and old) of her family. She was a strong, compassionate, tenacious, and courageous woman who tried to instill these qualities/characteristics in her children and extended family.
She and Sid were blessed with 55 years of marriage, prior to his death in 2010. Her greatest joy in life was her family. In total Frances and Sid had five children (Lucy [Andy] Kolenut, Kay Schritter, Carrie [Stuart] Rogers, Elizabeth Balerio [Matthew Vogt], and Paul Nally), 11 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, and six great-great-grandchildren.
Her family would like to thank the staff of Abode Hospice for providing excellent care for mom in her final months, weeks, days, and hours. She was truly grateful to be able to remain in the comfort of her own home until the very end. We take comfort in knowing that she was welcomed into heaven by the arms of those she missed so dearly and rejoice that she would spend Valentine’s Day once again with daddy.
At mom’s request, her ashes will be interred with daddy’s at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Grand Junction, Colorado.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Abode Hospice.
