Frances was born in Topeka, Kansas, the eldest child of John and Maria Vallas. Growing up during the Depression, Frances graduated from Topeka High School and, in turn Washburn University. Being somewhat older than the rest of her siblings, and the fact that her parents were often busy running the Topeka Hat Works, Frances became a surrogate mother to her sister and two brothers. The younger brother, Jim, reflected, “she was the best sister a person could have.”
After graduating college, Frances became the personal secretary to former Kansas governor and 1936 presidential candidate, Alf Landon, for whom she worked for several years. With Governor Landon’s vast political and international correspondence, her intellect blossomed as she was exposed to a world far from Kansas.
The Greek community of Topeka often met socially in those days. On one particular occasion, when a community picnic was planned, Frances announced that she would not be attending. Her father, having none of that, insisted she join the family at the picnic. It was there she met a young Air Force serviceman, Jim Calys, and in 1953 they were married. By the late 1950s, Frances and Jim moved to the Kansas City area, bought a home, and raised a family. By 1972, she and Jim were able to build the larger home they had worked so hard for.
As a working mother, which was unusual for the time, Frances held jobs of increasing responsibility at Sealright, Gulf Chemical, and Payless Cashways. Unsurprisingly, she made sure that her children had summer and after school jobs through their teen and college years.
Despite her career, Frances valued family above all else. Her children looked forward to birthdays when she always promised to make each child their favorite cake. Her mother, who lived in the household for over 25 years, was her guide star and occasional nemesis. Sister Georgia was her closest confidant, speaking nearly every day for many years.
Frances was an active member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Kansas City. In addition to raising her family in the church, she participated in the Ladies Philoptochos Society and worked annually in the Greek Food and Music Festival. Many of her closest friends were from the church community.
Frances was preceded in death by her parents, John and Maria, her brother Louis, and her husband of 65 years, Jim. She leaves behind her sister, Georgia Grusing, her brother James Vallas, her three children, George, Mary, and John, and eight grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
Trisagion services for Frances will be held on Wednesday, February 10, 5:30 PM CST at the Mount Moriah Newcomer & Freeman Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow on Thursday, February 11, 10 AM CST also at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church.
