Frances Adair

Frances was born July 22, 1923 to Doris and Elmer Orrand in Detroit, Michigan. Fran’s father passed away when Fran was four, and Doris, her mother, raised Fran and her two siblings, Charles and Lela, with the help of Fran’s beloved Grandpa Peach, whom she would often visit in Ontario, Canada (formerly from England).

Fran was active in church activities growing up such as choir, and Girls Friendly Society, an Episcopal organization founded in 1877, to provide all girls of any faith places to learn about God’s love. Holiday House, a camp retreat was such a place, and Fran enjoyed attending many summers. After high school graduation, Fran attended secretarial college and worked for doctors and Shell Oil. Many years later after moving to Livonia, Michigan, Fran worked in credit investigation.

Fran married her high school sweetheart, Alexander N. Adair, August 17, 1943, after WWII where Alex served in the European theater.

Alex remained active in the Army, and they resided at Ft. Lee, Virginia, Hopewell, and Ayer, Massachusetts for a time. Upon returning to Detroit, Michigan, they welcomed their daughter, Catherine Lee Adair, and eventually moved to suburban Livonia, Michigan.

There they were active at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church. Fran was on the Altar Guild, and participated with the Episcopal Church women where she sewed cancer pads for cancer patients, worked on receptions, and attended convocations.

Because Alex remained in the Army Reserve as a Colonel, they attended many Army functions. This continued when Alex and Fran retired to Sarasota, Florida near Alex’s brother and wife, Wilbur and Betty Adair. Alex and Fran were active at the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, and Fran became a member of the Daughters of the King, a prayer, service, and Bible study centered order of the Episcopal Church.

Fran and Alex moved to Aberdeen Village, part of the Presbyterian Manor retirement community in 2003, to be near their daughter, Cathy, and son-in-law, Steve, as health issues for Alex were arising. He passed in 2005, and friends, staff, and family continued to support Fran. Her 100th birthday celebration was a happy event in July 2023.

Fran was a loving mother, grandmother, aunt, and great-grandmother. She looked for the positive, and everyone enjoyed her smile and laugh. Mom will always be in our hearts.

Survivors include one daughter, Catherine Adair Wilson (Stephen), of Overland Park, Kansas.

She was preceded by her mother, Doris Orrand Arnot, her husband, Alexander N. Adair, a brother, Charles Orrand (June), and sister, Lela Smith (Edmond), brother-in-law, Wilbur Adair (Betty), mother-in-law, Anna Adair, and father-in-law, Alexander C. Adair, and cousins and relatives in Canada, and a nephew, Dennis Adair and great nephew, Bryan Musat.

She is survived by four grandchildren: Brent A. Connelly (Janel), of Arlington Heights, IL, Evan Connelly (Christina), of Huntley, IL, Weston Wilson of Overland Park, KS, and Courtney Hurlbert (Victor), of Kansas City, MO.

Fran is survived by nine great-grandchildren: Lillian, Mollie, Ava, Elyn, and Joel Connelly; Nathan and Jack Connelly; Victor, and Amelia Hurlbert.

Fran is survived by nieces and nephews; Dianne Adair Kirkendall (Ken), Nancy Orrand Musat, Douglas Smith (Bev), Suzanne Smith Cohoon (Rick), Claudia Smith Sova (Rodney), Laura Smith Force (Tom), Sherry Adair Seasword, and by great nieces and nephews also.

Frances Adair’s Memorial Service will be re-scheduled at a later time.

Interment of ashes will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.

Donations may be made to:

The Good Samaritan Fund, Aberdeen Village

17500 W 119th St.

Olathe, Kansas 66061

St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church

6630 Nall Avenue

Mission, Kansas

The American Heart Association

The American Cancer Society