Mary Frances Dailey

January 6, 1921

Oklahoma City, OK

Fran, only child to devoted father Charles Wynegar (he was 50 yo at her birth). Her mother was Zora Wynegar. Her two half siblings were Bill and Margaret Brandon (both deceased). Her parents divorced when Fran was very young. Fran split her time between parents in El Reno and Calumet. She preferred time with her father and his parents who doted on her.

Fran went El Reno High School in 1939. Her high academic achievements caught the attention of the Superintendent of Schools who arranged a high paying student job while she attended Oklahoma A&M. Fran met her husband of 21 years, James DeLoss Dailey II at Oklahoma A&M (now OSU) in Stillwater after the end of WWII in 1945. James was a fighter pilot and war hero during WWII, accomplished musician and was considered the big man on campus at the time. It was not long before they married. James re-enlisted in the Air Force with their first baby (Bill) on the way. They were stationed in many places including 8 years in Japan where Fran assisted wounded soldiers flown to Japan during the Korean War for a short time. They spend several years in Cape Cod Massachusetts where her daughters Pat and Kathy were born. The family was finally transferred to South Carolina during the Cuban Missile Crisis 1961. James bought property in Eastover to retire but died suddenly in December 1965.

Fran moved her family back to Oklahoma and bought a home in Del City near Tinker AFB. Fran provided for her family by working at Tinker Air Force base for 23 years beginning her civil service career in 1967 as a secretary. In order to move up in pay grades, Fran took classes at night from Central State in Edmond. She received her bachelor degree at the age of 55. She was soon the first woman promoted to Quality Control Inspector.

Fran had four children, nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Son William Allen Dailey (born 1947, died 1987) with granddaughter Chelsea Ann: Son James DeLoss Dailey III (born 1947) with grandchildren James, Janna, Jeanine; Daughter Patricia DeLaine Powell-Hagert (born 1955) with grandchildren Scott (great grandchildren Brandin 10, Brooke 8), Jeffrey (great grandson Christian 3), Nathan and Daughter Kathleen DeLise Collins (born 1960) with her two granddaughters Kelli (great grandson Joshua 2) and Holly.

Fran was an extremely intelligent woman and an avid reader all of her life reading up to a book a night at times into her eighties. Staff at the Oklahoma library knew her well. Fran made many friends wherever she went with her quick wit and sense of humor. No matter how bad the situation she kept the first aid attendant, doctors and nurses laughing even to the end. She lived many years in her home on S May Oklahoma City. In 2006 Fran moved to Village on the Park where she made many friends. In 2007 Fran went to stay with her daughter Pat in NJ until returning back to Norman, OK in September 2008 to be with her daughter Kathy and grandchildren living in the area. She stayed at Whispering Pines until her death.

She will be missed.