Frances Curtner

Frances Jane "Frankie" Curtner of Stanton, Calif., passed away Sunday, June 28, 2009, at West Anaheim Medical Center, following abdominal surgery.

She was the loving mother of Cape Girardeau resident Judith Farris. She is also survived by seven other children, 16 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, all of whom reside in California.

Frances was born April 2, 1927, in Commerce, Mo., to Charles and Clara Armstrong Sykes.

When she was two, the family moved to Cape Girardeau. She attended Washington School and graduated in 1945 from Central High School.

Her husband, DeWayne Curtner, passed away in 1989. She was also preceded in death by three brothers, James, Joe and Lee Roy Sykes; two sisters, DeSha Day and Louise Sykes; and a grandchild.

A memorial service will be held July 9 at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Cypress, Calif.

Any memorials in her honor may be made to the Theatre Guild Scholarship Fund, c/o the Department of Theatre and Dance at Southeast Missouri State University.