| Frances E. Goostrey | |
| September 10, 1925 - January 30, 2012 | |
| Cary North Carolina - formerly of Lake Bluff, Illinois | |
| Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. May 18, 2012 at Church of Holy Spirit 400 E. Westminster Ave. Lake Forest, IL 60045 | |
| Frances (Fran) Earle Goostrey departed this life in Cary, NC on January 30, 2012. She was born to Henry Earle and Rosamonde Hopkins Earle on September 10, 1925 in St. Clair, Michigan. Always an avid learner, she graduated from Kalamazoo College in 1943 with a B.A. and four majors. She feared she might not graduate, though, as she was caught smoking a pipe in the dormitory and was apparently already on thin ice for having had too extracurricular activities. (Her GPA must have saved her.) Graduate school came next and she fondly remembered her time spent in Boston, where she studied psychiatric social work at Boston University. However, formal social work took too much of a toll on her emotionally. She returned to Michigan after her first year and taught high school physical education and hygiene at St. Clair High School. That summer she met her future husband, Donald E. Goostrey. They always laughed about their first date (blind date that is) and the fact she had five other dates that day. Their marriage the following year would end up lasting 61 years. In May of 2010, her beloved Don left this earth to await her coming.
Her penchant for community service followed Fran her entire life. Girl Scouts was one of her early introductions into that which became her life’s avocation – volunteerism. She not only became a Girl Scout herself, she led many young girls and women into the ways of Girl Scouts. She was on the Girl Scout Council in both Michigan and in Illinois, well into her 60s. When the Goostreys moved to Lake Bluff in 1972, she immersed herself in many organizations – Infant Welfare Society, Church of the Holy Spirit altar guild and intercessory prayer, Lake Bluff Women’s Club, Lake Bluff/Lake Forest Historical Society, League of Women Voters, Great Books and Great Decisions to name just a few. With gardening one of her biggest loves, in short order she joined the Lake Bluff Garden Club, with her own garden being lovely each year. She served as president of garden club twice and on the board almost every year until she moved to North Carolina in May of 2011. She relished each Fourth of July parade in Lake Bluff, when the Garden Club would “march” in the parade. She loved helping decide on the yearly theme she and her friends would come up with for their part of the parade! During that time she also served on the board of the Garden Clubs of Illinois. Fran was on the Women’s Auxiliary for the Lake Bluff VFW Post, having helped to assess many young women destined to go to Girls’ State in Illinois from Lake Forest High School. The Lake Forest Hospital Volunteers were also deep in her heart, taking her Tuesday stint in the PT department for many years with a dear friend. She eventually was named Volunteer of the Year by the hospital, as well. She and Don were both deeply involved in local politics – helping to campaign for many a cause or friend. Many may also remember her for her performances in the Lake Bluff Follies or the annual Lake Bluff Ghost Walk, in which she participated for several years as a rather spooky old lady. Never one to let moss grow under her feet, Fran found time to swim 40 to 50 laps [2-3 times/week] in the Lake Forest High School, Lake Forest College or Lake Bluff Municipal Pool year round well into her 80’s.
Besides many dear, dear friends – neighbors and from all of the places she touched in her life, she is survived by her daughter, Frandy (Emily G.) Garrett, son-in-law, Marshall Garrett and granddaughter, Emily Frances Garrett, who reside in Garner, NC; a sister-in-law, Marjorie (Mrs. Richard) Goostrey and many wonderful nieces and nephews – Bill, Sara, Don, Penny, Dottie, Jeff, Cheri, Nancy, Steve, Susan, Patty and Lisa and their children and grandchildren and spouses.
A memorial service to celebrate Fran’s life will be held at Church of the Holy Spirit in Lake Forest, IL on Friday, May 18th, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.
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