Francis Richie

Frances (Mason) Richie was born Dec. 30, 1951, to Clark and Joan Mason in Lewiston. Eighteen months later, her best friend and little sister, Alberta, was born. She spent her childhood in Tammany, going on long rides and singing with her sister. Franny also competed in local rodeos in barrel racing and goat tying. Most summers were spent working at the race track with her dad, cleaning stalls and ponying horses. She graduated from Lewiston High School in 1970 and then attended Lewis-Clark State College.

She married Joe Rinard and they had one son, Roy. Later she married Cleve Richie and they had three children, Monte, Sarah and Grant. Franny never wanted to leave her kids, so waited until after her children were in school to complete her education at LCSC and receive her degree in child education. When she graduated from college, her request was that the gifts should go to her children, as they sacrificed and worked for her degree as well. After graduating, Frances taught at Grantham Elementary in Clarkston.

Twenty-one years ago, Franny suffered a brain aneurism that placed her in a nursing home in Moses Lake, Wash. During her time there, Alberta's grandchildren went to see her often and shared their "kid" silliness with her. Franny seemed to have a special love for Allie (age 8), who could always make Franny smile.

On Saturday, June 20, 2015, she went to be with the Lord. She was preceded in death by her father, Clark Mason; mother Joan Vincent; sister Cheryll Halsey; brother Gordon Halsey; and son Roy Richie.

Survivors include her son, Monte Richie of Dayton; daughter Sarah VanLueven of North Bend, Wash.; son Grant Richie of Minam, Ore; sister Alberta Cannon of Marlin, Wash; brother Rusty Mason of Lewiston; and 11 grandchildren.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Malcom's Brower-Wann Funeral Home, 1718 18th St., Lewiston. After the graveside service, we will have a covered-dish dinner at the park.