Frances L. Evans of 659 Catherine St., Mt. Carmel Apartments, Utica NY died on January 16, 2018 after a long illness. “Fran” was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, and was predeceased by her parents, Lt. Col. John Earl Evans and Dorothy Wollerton Evans. Fran attended Frankfurt American High School in Kassel Germany during the time of her father’s military service in the 1950s. The family returned to live in Utica after her father’s service abroad, and Frances graduated from Utica Free Academy on Kemble St. in Utica. Fran married Joe Nobles of Texas City, Texas and together had a daughter Donna and son John. Fran lived in Texas City Texas for a time then moved back to Utica to be near her mother and father. Fran has worked as a cigarette girl at Hotel Utica, teller at The Bank of Utica, Beeline Fashions as a national level top-selling saleswoman, and the Resource Center for Independent Living as an employment specialist for individuals with disabilities. Fran went “back to school” as a returning adult student, graduating from BOCES with her Licensed Practical Nursing Degree (LPN). This nursing credential represented an immense sense of pride and accomplishment for Fran and she became employed almost immediately with a local hospital. Fran became frustrated with hospital nursing that she felt didn’t allow her to do the type of nursing she wanted to do. Fran created her own private-duty nursing business, “Need-a-Nurse” and provided care and comfort to elderly and chronically ill residents in their homes. Fran also worked as a hospice nurse locally providing terminally ill patients and their families with care and support. Fran’s calling to hospice nursing aligned with her passion to be wholly present with patients during the dying process. Fran was an intensely creative person, moving through many different mediums over her lifetime. Macramé, sewing, quilting, and painting allowed her to express artistic abilities. Her desire to teach others to do all these things persisted even through her illness despite her increasing weakness. Fran raised her children on her own as a single working mother, while at the same time maintaining a vibrant personal and outdoor life that included; down-hill skiing, water skiing, gardening, camping, and cooking. Fran was a parishioner of Central United Methodist Church on Court St. in Utica and raised her children in the same fellowship at Central. She was also an active member of the Players Theater in New Hartford. Fran is survived by her daughter, Donna L. (Nobles) Gillette and partner Danny McLain of Holland Patent, and her son, John J. Nobles of Rome. Fran, “Grami”, leaves her cherished grandchildren, Justin Michael Earl Gillette and his wife Amy of Whitesboro, and Kylen Greer Gillette also of Whitesboro. Great granddaughters, Hanna Rose Gillette and Sophia Arlene Gillette of Whitesboro whom she cherished and who will be forever loved. Dear friends include Anne LaBella, Mary Lou and Paul DiSalvo, and Selma Duracak. A celebration of Fran’s life is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. at Mount Olivet Cemetery Chapel, 70 Wood Road Whitesboro, on Saturday, January 20, 2018. The Chapel is fully accessible to family, friends, and colleagues with disabilities. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to The Abraham House, 1203 Kemble St., Utica, NY 13501. Arrangements have been entrusted to Heintz Funeral Service, Inc., Utica.