Frances Katherine Taufen

Frances Katherine Taufen, 96, was born April 23, 1927, near Uniontown, Wash., to Richard D. and Catherine M. Sprenger Stout. She passed away on June 25, 2023, at The Courtyard in Colfax, Wash. Cause of death was infirmities of age. A Memorial Mass for her and her son Stephen who preceded her in death will be Friday, July7th, at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Colfax. Reception to follow, then burial in the Colfax Cemetery.

She attended the Hall School in the country near her family farm through grade school and then graduated from Colton High School in 1944. She then enrolled in the Sacred Heart School of Nursing in Spokane, Wash., through the US Cadet Nurse Corps program spending summers at US Army bases nursing injured WWII veterans that were returned back to the US. In 1947 she graduated as a Registered Nurse. From there she went to Pasadena, Calif., and nursed for a short period of time before returning home to nurse at a Moscow, Idaho, clinic before getting married. Once all her children were school age, she returned to nursing part-time at St. Ignatius Hospital and then Whitman Community Hospital when it opened in 1968, both in Colfax. She retired from nursing in the 1970's.

Fran married Warren Taufen on October 10, 1949, in Moscow, Idaho. They lived in Uniontown until 1955 when they moved to Colfax, where she has lived since. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting and quilt making and made many "Linus Blankets" for the children at Ronald McDonald house in Spokane. An avid reader and bridge player into her 90's, she always enjoyed the several bridge clubs she belonged to over the years. After retiring Fran and Warren enjoyed traveling and wintering in Arizona. They were members of the Colfax Elk's Club and the Colfax Golf Club.

Fran belonged to St. Patrick's Catholic Church and was a member and past president of St. Patrick's Altar Society, and was a member of the Parish Council. She also served on the Whitman County Election Board.

She is survived by two sons, Larry of Ajo, Ariz., and Don of Seattle, Wash .; and one daughter Debbie Wells and her husband Jim of Colfax. Also surviving are two grandsons, Curt Wells, Jason Wells (Krissi) as well as five great-grandchildren; Gavin, Chase, Brooklyn Bo, Jaydin and Kash Wells all of Colfax. Her older sister Myrtle Fulfs Pullman, Wash., sisters-in-law Janet Taufen Weigelt Spokane, Wash., and Mary Stout Genesee, Idaho, also survive her. Preceding her in death were her husband Warren and son Stephen, three brothers Richard (Sonny), Eugene, and John Stout and sister Dorothy Anderson, all who lived in the Uniontown, and Genesee, Idaho, areas. Anyone desiring, may send a memorial to St. Jude's Children's Hospital for cancer research or an organization of their choice. The family would like to thank The Courtyard and Hospice who provided exceptional care for her.

Online condolences may be left at http://www.corbeillfuneralhomes.com Corbeill Funeral Home of Colfax is entrusted with the arrangements.