Frances McNew Statler

Frances was born May 25, 1926, in Alamogordo, NM and died April 15, 2025, at the age of 98. Her parents were Amy Parralee Weems McNew (Amy) and Robert James McNew (Rob). Amy's parents were Frank and Ellen Weems. Rob's parents were William and Nettie McNew. Frances had two brothers, Perry Carl McNew and Norman Albert McNew, both of whom preceded her in death.

Frances was named after her two grandmothers, but she didn't like the name Nettie and avoided using it. Frances graduated from Alamogordo High School in May 1943, just a few days before her seventeenth birthday. She attended the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque where she met Robert Daniel Statler (Bob) who was there in the Naval V-8 program. They were married November 8, 1945, and divorced in 1982 after thirty-seven years of marriage. They were the parents of four children: Frances Amy Statler Woolley (Amy), Carol Louise Statler Ritter (Carol), Rebecca Ann Statler Pino (Becky), and Robert Daniel Statler Junior (Dan).

Frances enjoyed many years of bowling until she became unsteady on her feet and had to quit at age 87. While league bowling at Holiday Bowl she picked up the 'big-four split', purely by accident. She also enjoyed sewing until arthritis crippled her hands and she couldn't grasp small things. She also enjoyed cooking and baking until she could no longer stand at the counter to mix things. Frances stopped driving in 2020 at age 94 and gave her car to granddaughter Karen Penry.

Through the years Frances self-published a book of her poems titled "Flights of Fancy", several journals of memories and at the urging of her daughter, Carol, the memoir of her life, simply titled "Memoir". She also self-published a book of recipes, titled "Fran's Favorites".

Frances is survived by her children; by grandchildren, Jimmy Jensen, Bobby Jensen, Karen Penry, Shelley Sorenson, Robin Ritter, Launi DeYoung, Daniel McClaflin and Tom McClaflin; many great-grandchildren and even great, great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her nieces, Erin King and Kim Baecher, daughters of her brother Norman.