Frances Chaffin

Frances Marie Chaffin died on November 26, 2021 at her home in rural Manhattan, Kansas. She was born to parents Allen and Lottie Raines, in Bay, Arkansas on May 21, 1934. Her family moved to Little Rock, Arkansas in 1942, and Frances graduated from Central High School in 1952. She attended the University of Arkansas where she first met Charles Thomas Chaffin and they began a five-year courtship. Tom and Frances married on October 18, 1958. They lived in Kansas City for 10 years before moving to Olathe, Kansas in 1968. Tom and Frances had three sons: Raines, Charles, and Nathan. Frances and Tom returned to Little Rock in 1997 where they were active in the Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church. Following Tom’s death in 2016, Frances moved to Manhattan, Kansas where her son Charles and his family live.

Frances is survived by her three sons, Raines, Charles (Cheryl), and Nathan (Mary Alice), two grandsons, Trey and Owen, and a granddaughter, Amanda. She is also survived by a brother, J.W. Buddy Raines, a sister, Jo Ruth Sparks, and numerous nieces and nephews and their families. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, her brother, Allen Raines Jr., and her dear cousin, Charles Emerson. Frances’ faithful love and devotion to her family will never be forgotten or replaced.

Frances worked as a loving mom and, additionally, her entrepreneurial spirit led her to create a successful arts and crafts business which she named Mini-Mushrooms. Starting as a small local craft venture, Mini-Mushrooms ultimately grew much larger with her signature miniatures being sold in stores around the Midwest, including booths at Silver Dollar City and the annual War Eagle Craft Show. After over 20 years in business, she ended Mini-Mushrooms in the early 1990s. Frances was a creative and talented person and continued to enjoy oil painting, drawing, and crafting as hobbies long after her retirement.

The family suggest that memorial donations be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation.

A graveside service will be held at 3:00 pm, Saturday Dec. 4th, at Forest Hills Cemetery in Alexander, Arkansas where she will be laid to rest next to her husband.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.pinecrestfh.com for the Chaffin family.