Mary Frances French

Mary Frances Keller French Frances, 71, died peacefully at home April, 21, 2007. She was born January 13, 1936 at St. Francis Hospital to Miller and Mary Catherine Mattingly Keller. She married her high school sweetheart, Darroll P. French Sr., on May 8, 1955. She was a 1952 graduate of Broad Ripple High School and graduated from Indiana University?s school of business in 1956. At Indiana, she was one of only two women in her class enrolled in the School of Business. She was an active and effective leader in many Indianapolis volunteer organizations. She was a former board member of the 500 Festival and developed the gin rummy fundraiser that was very successful in the 1970s. She was a member and past president of the Children?s Museum Guild and helped nurture the development of the Museum?s ?Haunted House? project. She was a member of the Delta Gamma Sorority at Indiana University and served as a member and past president of their housing corporation board in the 1980s. She was a past president of the PTA at Skiles Test Elementary School, Belzer Junior High School, and president of the Lawrence Central High School Parent Booster Club which raised money with many inno...[more]

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ive fundraising ideas. She was an avid supporter of the Hillcrest Country Club Swim Team from the 1960s and 1970s and helped establish the conference swim championship meet that still thrives today. She could always be counted on to score, judge, man a stop watch, give out ribbons, and root for everyone?s kids to be the best that they could be. She was also an avid supporter of the children?s golf programs at Hillcrest and spent many Saturdays walking the course trying to teach and keep score for young golfers. Her support was an important part of her life and the lives of her children. She fostered a love of sports and sportsmanship for each of them that has been passed on to her grandchildren. She was a longtime member of St. Margaret?s Guild, the Art League at Ocean Reef, Crooked Stick Golf Club, Hillcrest Country Club, The Anglers Club, Ocean Reef, and many other volunteer groups and organizations. She volunteered for years with the Girl Scouts as the cookie chairman for many area troops and was a troop leader to a group of girls that made it to the rank of First Class. As a child she was elected the May Queen at St. Joan or Arc. Later, she was crowned the Sweetheart of Sigma Chi at Indiana University. Professionally, she was the former co-owner of Kid Stuff, a children?s clothing store located in the Glendale Mall. She was affectionately known as ?The Commish? to her many friends after founding the Fun and Sports Club in 1978. She was a devoted football fan and a charter season ticket holder for the Indianapolis Colts. It brought her much pride and joy to see her home team win the Super Bowl earlier this year. She enjoyed creating stained glass art, decoupage, and ceramics painting with her grandchildren. She enjoyed spending May at the Speedway, summers at Lake Wawasee, and winters in Key Largo, Florida. She was a great friend to many and a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She is survived by her husband, Darroll, her three children, Karen Komar, Carol Yount (David), and D. Philip French Jr. (Kelly), and her seven grandchildren Sam Komar Jr., Jack Komar, Dave Yount, Abby Yount, D. Philip French III, Max French, and Morgan French. She is also survived by two brothers Tom Keller of Noblesville, and Jack Keller of Saratoga, California. She was preceded in death by her parents and one sister, Rita Dickerson. The extended French family wishes to gratefully acknowledge and thank the wonderful nurses who tended to Frances with their gentle and loving care over the last few months. May God bless you all. Family and friends will gather on Monday April 23, 2007 from 4:00 to 8:00 PM in Leppert Mortuary, Nora Chapel, 740 East 86th Street Indianapolis, IN 46240 and a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 1:00 PM in St. Pius X Catholic Church, 7200 Sarto Drive, Indianapolis, IN 46240. You are invited to visit the web site www.leppertmortuary.com where you may share a memory of Francis, sign the guest book or make a memorial contribution to the Ocean Reef Art League, 24 Dockside Lane #182, Key Largo, FL 33037 or the Children?s Museum Guild, P.O. Box3000, Indianapolis, IN 46206.