Frances Maude Coryell

She was born in Lansing, Michigan, on May 15, 1924 to Eno and Clara Maude Ayres and was the third of six daughters.

The Ayres family first came to the area after the Civil War. Her grandfather, Wesley Ayres, settled his family in a small cabin on the land between Forrest and Bennett roads, which is now part of MSU in Meridian Township. Fran's grandfather, who was a skilled woodworker and finish carpenter, was asked to help with the finish work in the new state capitol building being built in downtown Lansing. Wesley built a big house on River Street in downtown Lansing and moved his family to be closer to his job. This is the house in which Fran and her sister were born and shared with their grandparents until they built their own house next door. She went to Cherry Street School, where she learned to play the violin. Her violin was actually one of two handcrafted by her grandfather. Fran continued to love and play that violin, as well as the piano, into her late 80s. She graduated from Lansing Central High School, the class of 1941, and played her violin in the school orchestra. The Lansing Symphony Orchestra invited her to audition, but she politely declined, something she said she regretted later in her life.

Frances was a natural-born historian. She journaled almost every day of her adult life, in small date books, always including the weather, a few lines about the day and sometimes she would add "a comment".... those were the most fun to read. She wrote both her grandfather, Ayres', and father, Eno's, memoirs. Fran also submitted many pictures and writings about historic Lansing and Meridian Township to various publications over the years.

Frances was a longtime member of St. Katherine's Episcopal Church in Williamston, Michigan. She played an active part, serving as president of the Episcopal Church Women. Fran was the choir director in the late 1970s. (Oh, yes, she was also a singer and could often be heard in her house singing along with Andrea Bocelli). She served as church historian in the 1980s and completed the history of the historic little chapel that sits on the property in time for the 100th year celebration in 1987. Fran was strong in her faith and prayed daily.

"Frannie" as she was fondly called by those who were close to her, will be lovingly remembered with a smile, (maybe even a chuckle) and deeply missed by her children, Dana Nico, Jody (Bill) Wyman, Victor Nico, and David (Janie) Nico; her grandchildren; great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren whom she dearly loved; and her beloved sister, Nancy (James) Smith. Frances is preceded in death by her parents; her late first husband, Phillip Nico (1963); late second husband, Lee Coryell (2000); sisters, Jean, Lucilla, Noreen, and Mary; and her dearly loved and missed daughter-in-law, Mary and grandson, Paul.

A private family celebration of life will be held in the spring. Frances Maude Coryell will be laid to rest in the memorial garden next to St. Katherine's Chapel in Williamston, Michigan.