Frances E. (Ashenfelter) Lewis, 82, of Adrian, Michigan, passed away peacefully at home on July 13, 2024, following an extended battle with dementia. She was born on February 18, 1942, in Adrian Township, the youngest of nine children to Jess B. and Jeanette R. (Feckley) Ashenfelter.
On August 8, 1958, she married her beloved husband, Jack (Sam Jr.) Lewis, who preceded her in death in 2009. Frances was a devoted homemaker, dedicating her life to caring for her family and community.
Frances was an active member of several organizations, including the Original Dulcimer Players Club of Michigan and the Northwest Michigan Tractor and Engine Club. Together with her husband, she was the long-time host of the popular Palmyra Old Time Music Jam Sessions monthly get-togethers, sharing her love of music with friends and the community.
In her younger years, Frances was committed to various charitable causes. She helped raise funds for the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society-Relay for Life, and the Lenawee Humane Society, demonstrating her compassion for both people and animals. She continued to support many charities throughout her life.
Known for her warm personality and caring nature, Frances will be remembered as a devoted wife, mother, and caretaker to her family. She had a particular fondness for animals and enjoyed trying her luck at the slot machines in her leisure time. Her biggest trip in life was a cross-country train ride to Las Vegas with her husband and some of her siblings.
Frances is survived by her sister, Jeanette Ashenfelter of Brooklyn, MI; her four children, Frances (Charles) Shambarger of Cumming, GA, Barbara (Bryan) Van Doren of Adrian, Scot (Tena) Lewis of Adrian, and Nancy (Brian Duncan) Lewis of Toledo, OH; seven grandchildren, Bryce A. Van Doren, Kyle R. Shambarger, Tyler J. Shambarger, Skyler E. Shambarger, Dustin R. Lewis, Devin J. Wild, and Randi R. James; and seven great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; her parents; and seven of her siblings, Arnold R. Ashenfelter, William P. Ashenfelter, Andrea Drum, Harvey C. Ashenfelter, Jess B. Ashenfelter, Robert C. Ashenfelter, and Charles R. Ashenfelter.
Cremation will take place and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.
To honor Frances’s final wishes, the family will host a remembrance of life ceremony at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in her memory to the Lenawee Humane Society, the American Cancer Society-Relay for Life, or the charity of the donor’s choice.
Frances’s warm heart, dedication to family, and love for music and animals will be deeply missed by all who knew her.