Frances R. Leach, 91, of West Burlington, died Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, at the Klein Center in West Burlington.
Born June 7, 1932, in Burlington, she was the daughter of Harvey W. and Dorothy E. Mosena Dowell. She married Claud M. Leach Jr. on Jan. 9, 1960 at Messiah Lutheran Church. He preceded her in death.
She worked for the Burlington Casket Company, then transferred along with her husband to Ohio and continued with the company sewing and placing interiors in caskets. She then began working for Jeep Motor Company (Mopar) until her retirement.
Fran loved to crochet, crocheting many of the hospice angels for the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice House, placing her personal love and touches on each one. She loved spending time with her dogs and caring for her house plants and flowers.
She is survived by her nieces and nephews; Barbara (John) Nichols, Vicki (Terry) Lox, Anita Rahaim and Maria Dowell; nephews, Virgil (Olivia) Stanbary, William (Deb) Dowell, David (Diane) Stanbary, Randy (Jill) Stanbary, Stephen Dowell, Robert Dowell and Kevin Rainey; special friend Kris Vanerstrom and special friends from Klein’s, Linda, Mike, Skeeter and Wendy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Dorothy Stanbary and brothers William H. Dowell and Roy Dowell.
A memorial graveside service and inurnment will be held at a later date in Burlington Memorial Park Cemetery.
According to her wishes, cremation has been entrusted to the care of Lunning Chapel.
Memorials have been established for the Southeast Iowa Regional Hospice or the Des Moines County Humane Society.