Frances Marie Smith

Fran was born in Indianapolis, Indiana on January 31, 1932. As the youngest girl in a family of sixteen children, she spent her early years learning the value of hard work at her family's plating company and farm. Fran married James "Jim" Smith in 1949 and they began a lifetime of adventures together. They ultimately settled in South Florida in 1957 to start Jim's medical practice and raise their children.

Fran loved to be with family and friends; the mischievous sparkle in her eyes and her beautiful smile lit up every room. Fran was so many things to so many people: a devoted wife and mother, a trusted friend, a talented chef and party hostess, a proud grandmother, an artist, a world-traveler, a giving volunteer, a fierce competitor at cards...but perhaps her favorite role was as a great-grandmother (or "G.G."), eliciting the biggest and brightest smiles from her many great-grand babies. She loved to say, "There's not a bad one in the bunch!" With Fran's uncanny ability to make others feel welcome and the wide-spread impact of her love, she really was "everyone's G.G."

Left to honor Fran are her four children, Judith (Gene) Arant, Lora (Gary) Kendall, Dr. James (Judy) Smith, Jr., and Linda (Jim) Perry; thirteen grandchildren; twenty-eight great-grandchildren (and counting!); and many nieces and nephews.

Fran's family would like to extend its gratitude to Sherine Seepersad for the loving care and kindness she gave to Fran, as well as to the gracious staff at Arbor Oaks at Greenacres.

A viewing will be held on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at 10 am with a funeral following at 11 am, both located at Fred Hunter's Blackburn Funeral Home, 718 S. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316. In lieu of flowers, Fran's family would greatly appreciate donations to the American Cancer Society or VITAS Healthcare.