Frances Cooper Mayse

Frances was, and will always be, a woman of inspiration. She lived the epitome of an independent woman's life, the dream of creating one’s own path, stability and pursuing one’s happiness. She traveled the world, flew cross country in a biplane across the United States, excavated dinosaur bones in Colorado, climbed mountaintops, explored deserts, made pottery and jewelry, and fished for wild salmon in Alaska. She loved to knit and sew, collected rocks from her travels and fed the birds in her yard every morning. Born in Cambridge, England, she emigrated to California as an infant with her mother, and lived along the coastline in Southern California during her life before moving to Tucson, Arizona for the blue skies, beautiful sunsets and unique wildlife. After working for years to support her family she finally accomplished her goal of returning to school to earn an AA degree in Archaeology from Pima Community College. She was a devoted volunteer of the Passports in Time (PIT) archaeology preservation program of the US Forest Service, and had the most amazing stories of her adventures, contributions and the friends she made there. Frances lived a beautifully extraordinary life, full of love, laughter and adventure, touching the lives of all who knew her. She was a role model to her daughters, grandchildren and loyal friends.

Please take a moment to remember and honor a truly remarkable woman. We are left with a feeling of gratitude that Frances - also known as Fran, Frani, Mum and Gammy - graced our lives. She is deeply missed and will be eternally loved. Frances is survived by her two daughters, Christine and Cindy and her son-in law Kevin, her beloved grandchildren Rose, Audrey, Minnie and Spencer, her brother Alan and sister-in-law Jeannie, her sister Ana and brother-in-law Ray, her sister-in-law Imelda and her niece Stephanie, and nephews Aaron, Cameron, David and Jesse, as well as her faithful desert tortoise, Shelby.

To commemorate her incredible journey and celebrate the love she spread, a private family “Celebration of Life” will be held on July 20, 2024.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Arizona Game and Fish Department's Tortoise Rescue Program www.azwildlifehero.com/donate.