Frances Belle Harms, 88
Frances Belle (Cramp) Harms was born at home at Cramp’s Bay (now Hathaway Bay) on Hayden Lake, Idaho, on Feb. 13, 1925, to Leafy Savilla (Gibson) and Stephen Valentine Cramp. She passed away on Sept. 12, 2013. A proud Idaho native, she attended school at a one-room schoolhouse on the Rimrock and attended Coeur d’Alene High School through her junior year. During World War II, at age 17, she lied about her age to get a job at Farragut Naval Training Station where she worked as a cashier at the soda fountain. She and Douglas Harms were married by a justice of the peace on April 18, 1957, in a tire factory in Portsmouth, VA.
They lived throughout the country during Doug’s Navy career. Following his retirement from the service, they moved to Spokane, Wash., and later to Athol, Idaho, where Fran opened Square Granny’s Craft Store in 1977. Fran was an avid bowler for many years, travelling to compete in tournaments and, together with her husband, spent many years bowling in Sunset Bowling’s Friday night league. The two enjoyed attending annual reunions for the USS Long Beach – the Navy’s first nuclear-powered surface craft of which Doug was a plank owner. As recent as this year, Fran was part of the Athol American Legion pool team. She enjoyed crafts, dancing, fishing, golfing, gambling, travelling, playing cards and spending time with her family and friends. She was a member of the Athol American Legion Auxiliary, 8 and 40, Royal Neighbors of America, and TOPS. She coached bobbysox softball and was a Girl Scout leader for her children. She attended First Lutheran Church in Spirit Lake. Through her store, Fran sponsored Athol Little League teams for many years. She was named Athol’s Citizen of the Year in 2001.
She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Doug; son David Harms of Athol; daughter Carol Harms and son-in-law Don Krewson of Athol; daughter Mary Golden and son-in-law John of Bayview; son James Culpepper and daughter-in-law Barbara of Post Falls; daughter Terre Brammer; daughter Ellen Barry of Grants Pass, Ore.; daughter Rachel Justiss of Spokane Valley, daughter Sherri Ferris of Placerville, Calif.; daughter-in-law Emily Culpepper of Boston, Mass.; daughter-in-law Abbie Priddis; sister Lucille Morrow of Lewiston and the “other sister” Mitzi Johnson of Bayview. She was preceded in death by her parents; son Merle David (Skip) Culpepper; granddaughter Tamara Sabota; and grandson Aaron Culpepper.
Granny Franny was especially proud of her many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren, plus many adopted grandkids. She is survived by her grandchildren Noreen Sacco of North Easton, Mass.; Sean Culpepper of North Easton, Mass.; Lanie Gavin of South Easton, Mass.; Kevin Culpepper of Coeur d’Alene; Cory Culpepper of Davenport, Wash.; Sean Sabota of Grants Pass, Ore.; Joshua Sabota of Grantspass, Ore.; Ramona Martz of Merlin, Ore.; Travis Brammer of Washington; Annie Britton of Virginia; Taryn Thompson of Rathdrum; Patrick Bergen of Bayview; Jaylynn Golden of Bayview; Daniel Stirn of Redlands, Calif.; and Amy Derry of Athol.
Fran’s great-grandchildren are Robert Sacco, Stephanie Sacco, Alyssa Gavin, Cassandra Gavin, Kristin Culpepper, Brandon Culpepper, Jason Culpepper, Blake Culpepper, Bradley Culpepper, Cody Culpepper, Jeffery Culpepper, Kaeli Culpepper, Kayli Sabota, Denee’ Farley, Brianna Farley, Morgan Sabota, Joshua Sabota Jr., James Martz, Michael Martz, Melody Martz, Brock Brammer, Naomi Brammer, Darian Lee, Jackson Parr, Bailey Brodwater, Faith Brodwater, Alli Bergen, Austin “Bubba” Bergen, Owen Derry, Sebastian Derry and Robert Derry.
Fran was great-great grandmother to Camden Culpepper, Abbigail Culpepper, and Landon Leonard.
Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013, at Yates Funeral Home in Hayden, Idaho. A reception for family and friends will be 1 p.m. that day at American Legion Post #149 in Athol. Memorial contributions can be made to Hospice of North Idaho.
Please visit Frances memorial and sign her online guest book at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com