Frances was born into difficult times on November 15, 1920, in Boise Idaho to Newton and Delia (Rogers) Matthews and passed November 18, 2024, 3 days after her 104th birthday. She was raised in the large Matthews family between Boise and Hailey, Idaho. When in Hailey, Idaho, she lived in a rustic home with no electricity or indoor plumbing. During the winter, she often went to school by dog sled. At 16, she moved permanently to Boise and was accepted into the wonderful Montgomery family who had 3 daughters. She attended Boise Idaho Junior College (now known as Boise State University) and worked at Idaho Power. Fran and Vernon met in Boise, when Vernon was on the traveling induction board for the Army during WWII. They met at a USO dance and then again later that night at a soda fountain. They were married 30 days later, June 14, 1942, right there in Boise, ID before Vernon had to leave on Army Orders. Fran subsequently moved to Benicia in 1943, and lived with Vern’s family until Vern was discharged from the service. In 1946, they bought an insurance company from Anna Pine, and opened their own insurance and real estate office, Estey Real Estate & Insurance. Estey Real Estate is still owned by family members and is the oldest continuously operated (non-franchise) real estate brokerage in Solano County. The office has been located on First Street since 1946, but the longest location was at 935 First Street from 1963 until 2017 when it relocated to 216 First Street. We have lost the matriarch of our family. Fran was an amazing wife, mother grandmother, grand and great plus businesswoman. She was so generous to all around her, giving her time, love, expertise, and smiles to everyone she could. She loved her family and her community of Benicia and dedicated her life to making her part of the world just a little bit better. She was active in many organizations (Eastern Star, Job’s Daughter, PTA, Rainbow Girls, Girl Scouts, Oakland Children’s Hospital, Soroptimists, Friendship Club) and even was a founding member of a few. Fran and Vern were married for 68 years. Their eyes would sparkle when they looked at each other. Together they built a wonderful life in Benicia. They built a business to last generations, and they even built their home, brick by brick, and board by board; a home they raised their family in, and had many crab feeds, chili feeds, cioppino feeds, BBQs filled with music and dancing with family, friends and clients. The Estey home is still filled to this day with love and Vern and Fran’s family. Fran is survived by her daughters Pam (Estey) and her husband Gary Toombs, Candice (Estey) and her husband Thomas Swanson and Debra (Estey) and her husband Lon McAnally; her grandchildren Dan Toombs, Tracee Storms, Kelly Rich, Jill Hoglund, Jeff McAnally, Sarah Murphy, Joe McAnally; 19 Great-Grandchildren and 3 Great-Great grandchildren Services will be private and burial will be at Benicia Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Passalacqua Funeral Chapel. Please visit the online tribute at www.passalacquafuneralchapel.com In lieu of flowers donations to a local Benicia charity of your choice, or Benicia Soroptimist.
Arrangements under the care of Passalacqua Funeral Chapel. Please visit her online tribute at: www.passalacquafuneralchapel.com
Passalacqua Funeral Chapel (707) 745-3130
