Frances Joan Hardgrove

Born 12/21/27 in Spokane, WA to Fabian McKeon Smith and Edith Culver Smith. Fran attended St. Augustine's grade school, Holy Names Academy and graduated with a degree in education and music from Dominican College, San Rafael, CA in 1949.

Prior to her marriage to John W. Hardgrove on November 30, 1951, she worked as a medical secretary in Spokane, WA. After living in Spokane for 35 years, her husband was transferred and she traded in the city life for rural Oakesdale, WA. where she lived for 16 years raising her family. In 1979 Fran and Jack moved to Stevenson, WA where they made their home for the remainder of their lives.

Preceded in death by her husband, she is survived by her children, James J. Hardgrove and Julie E. Hardgrove (Cliff Cline), her brother Mike Smith, grandchildren, Justin, Heather and Heidi.

Fran was an active member in Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in Stevenson, WA and she volunteered for various organizations throughout her life including the Interpretive Center in Stevenson. She enjoyed golf immensely even making a hole in one! In 2017, suffering from dementia, she was relocated to Bellingham, WA into memory care where she was near her daughter. Fran was funny and entertaining and loved doing Mom things while wearing her starched apron and pearls! Her chocolate chip cookies, fried chicken, and tuna salad sandwiches were the best. She will be greatly missed.

Funeral and burial services will be held on Thursday, August 23 at Holy Cross Cemetery in Spokane, WA.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to The Alzheimer's Foundation of America @ 322 8th Avenue, 7th Fl., NY, NY 10001 or on-line @ alzfdn.org/donate. We have lost both of our parents to dementia. It is a hideous disease that steals people away from their loved ones long before they are truly gone.

We need a cure.