Obituary: Frances Ilena Bauer Crighton Of Southeast

from the Beecher Funeral Home

Frances Ilena Bauer Crighton

January 8, 1939 - March 20, 2024

We mourn the loss of Frances Ilena Bauer Crighton, who passed away peacefully on March 20, 2024, at the age of 85. A devoted mother, grandmother, and a dedicated healthcare professional, Frances's legacy is one of compassion, resilience, and unwavering love. Known for her directness, Frances's candidness left a lasting impression on all who knew her, often accompanied by memorable stories and laughter.

Born in Clay Center, Kansas, on January 8, 1939, Frances' journey in life took her from the heartland of America to various cities, including Springfield, Missouri; Dallas, Texas; Kansas City, Kansas; Denver, Colorado; Wellington, Florida; and Brewster, New York.

Frances was a lifelong equestrian, beginning with her days as a child in Kansas riding her pony with her favorite dog, Peggy. She was a passionate and fearless equestrian into her eighties, visiting the barn daily to offer her opinion on the care and supervision of the horses or saddling her horse to visit neighbors. She passed her joy of horsemanship to her entire family but especially her daughter, Nikki, and grandchildren, Kaylee and Lizzie.

Much of Frances' life was dedicated to her career in healthcare; specifically, patient care and nursing education. Frances focused much of her nursing career to helping the most ill of patients - from volunteering at the Kansas City Free Health Clinic to care for Aids Patients, to caring for prostate cancer patients at the Denver Health Science Center.

Frances was tireless in her pursuit of education, both her own and that of her students, achieving Masters in Nursing and Education as well as a Ph.D. in Nursing from her beloved University of Kansas. In her later years, Frances dedicated her time to teaching and volunteering at Palm Beach State College, where she continued to inspire and mentor nursing students. Her home was filled with cards and gifts from her students thanking her for inspiring their careers.

Frances is survived by her loving children John, Nikki, and William, her son-in-law, Charles, and her cherished grandchildren, Chase, Kaylee, Emily, Faith, Lizzie, and Michael. Her spirit, wisdom, and love for life will be deeply missed but forever remembered.

A private memorial service will be held to celebrate Frances's remarkable life in the summer. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to KU Endowment in support of the Frances Crighton Cancer Research Nursing Award. Send donations to KU Endowment, P.O. Box 928, Lawrence, KS 66044 or give online at www.kuendowment.org/givenow.

Frances Ilena Bauer Crighton's journey may have ended but her legacy will continue to live on in the hearts of those she touched.