Carlson, Frances May

Frances May Carlson, age 93, died Friday, April 14, 2010 
at her home in Yakima's Highgate Senior Living. She was 
born in Tacoma, the oldest of two daughters, on May 
31, 1916 to Norwegian immigrant parents Sophie and 
Alfred Borgen. At age 12, her family moved to the small 
country town of Gig Harbor, Washington. Her father had 
a contract to deliver mail to and from Gig Harbor. In her 
teen years, Frances helped with the mail routes. She 
fondly reminisced of the wonderful times she and her 
sister Amy had while camping at Mt. Rainier, dances with 
friends, art classes, family picnics and activities on the 
beaches of Puget Sound. She graduated from Gig Harbor 
Union High School. In her Junior year she met Morrie 
Carlson at a dance. They married in 1937 and were 
together for sixty-one years. Morrie worked on the oil 
tankers and the Washington State ferries which ran 
between Gig Harbor, Point Defiance, and Vashon Island. 
Frances continued her father's tradition of being a mail 
carrier. On November 7, 1940, while driving to Tacoma 
for the mail, she crossed the Tacoma Narrows Bridge 
which became known as "Galloping Gertie". The new 
bridge violently twisted and moved up and down. 
Frances had a very difficult time keeping her Model A 
Ford moving across. She was the last driver to 
successfully make her way across the swaying roadway 
and pay toll before the bridge collapsed. In 1945 the 
couple moved to Fox Island, Washington where they 
spent sixteen years raising two daughters, Morrine 
Louise and Kaye Lorraine. Morrie was one of the ferry 
boat captains between Fox Island and Tacoma. Frances 
was very active with school and church activities, PTA, 
Brownies and Girl Scouts, garden club, card groups, arts 
and crafts, and their many wonderful life long friends. 
Frequent camping trips to La Wis Wis, Silver Springs, and 
Ohanapacosh campgrounds were favorite family outings. 
Living on the shores of Puget Sound provided full days 
of boating, fishing, beach combing, clam digging, 
blackberry picking, and gardening. In the early sixties 
the family moved to Gig Harbor. Morrie skippered the 
ferries between Seattle and Bremerton and Frances 
worked in Peninsula High School's attendance office. 
Traveling in their motor home provided many years of 
exploring and fulfillment as did gatherings at their 
Grayland beach house. Her love of flowers was life long, 
continuing her membership in garden clubs well into her 
later 80s. Always on the search for a "treasure", thrift and 
antique shops were a favorite haunt (especially 
Goodwill). Dancing to the music of the big bands 
happened most weekends. Frances always made time to 
volunteer at the Gig Harbor museum and The Peninsula 
Orthopedic Thrift Shop. She was never too busy for a 
game of Pinochle or lunch out with friends. Frances 
remained in her house on Shore Acres after Morrie died 
in 1998 and later resided at Sound Vista Village Assisted 
Living in Gig Harbor. In 2008 Frances moved to Yakima 
to be near her daughter Kaye and husband. When asked 
what she was most proud of Frances would say "my two 
wonderful daughters and my family". Our family will 
forever be so very grateful for the LOVING care the 
Highgate Senior Living staff provided Mom. A special 
thanks to Karen Gamache with Hospice. Frances is 
survived by her daughter Kaye and her husband Mick 
O'Neill, grandson Sean O'Neill, grandsons Chris Chornyak 
and Cameron Chornyak, granddaughter Kirra Chornyak 
and her daughter Sophie Morrine, and nephew Michael 
Rizer and wife Kathy Rizer. She was preceded in death 
by her husband Morrie Carlson and daughter Morrine 
Chornyak. A private family gathering is planned in May. 
Donations: National Alzheimer's Association / Yakima's 
Highgate Senior Living or Hospice.

Published in News Tribune (Tacoma) on May 5, 2010