Frances Grace (Hanson) Gipe, 86, went home to Jesus February 5, 2026 in Lynnwood, Washington. She leaves behind her daughter Michelle (Gipe/Covelli) Beers (Donald) of Freeland WA, her sons Mitchell Gipe of San Diego, CA and Timothy Gipe (Milissa) of Monroe WA, her grandchildren, Crystal (Covelli) Anderson (Michael), Benjamin Covelli and Mitchell’s daughter Jennifer Gipe, her great grandchildren, Lexi, Claire, and Everly Anderson along with Jennifer’s daughter Summer Martinez. She also leaves behind siblings: Marcia Paterson (Thomas), William Hanson (Donna), Patricia Bland (Gary), Victor Hanson (Sarah) and many nieces and nephews. She was proceeded in death by her father Reverend Hilmer Hanson, mother Alice (Kimble) Hanson and half sister Lois Phillips (David).
She was born in Bellingham, Washington on June 14, 1939. She spent the first few years of her life in LaConnor, the family moved to Sumas and lived there until her dad was reassigned as the minister of the United Methodist Church in Langley. Her favorite childhood memories were of the camp meetings where her love for music began. Fran loved music, especially camp music and also playing the piano and singing. The love of music, followed her throughout her life and camp music was a blessing right up to the end of her days. After graduation from Langley High School she went to the big city of Seattle, attending the University of Puget Sound for two years. During that time she joined a magazine crew and did so well the company took her to Hawaii to sell magazines. While there she met and married Roger Gipe, who was serving in the military, where their first child was born, Michelle. After his military service they moved to Ohio where Roger‘s family lived. In Ohio they had their second child, Mitchell. From there, they moved to Indiana where Roger attended college and Fran started a daycare center, at one point taking in 13 children along with her own two. Fran had the ability to calmly keep all those children safe and in line. Moving to Erie Pennsylvania, she worked as a traveling librarian in the elementary school system. While living in Erie she was instrumental in changing the dress code for the girls, from having to wear dresses at school to being able to wear dress pants (in 2 feet of winter snow). She also organized a program so the elementary school students could stay in the school gym, supervised and eat their sack lunches, where previously they had to leave the school to get food. The early 70’s brought them back to Ohio and having their third child Timothy. Fran was very active in volleyball, swimming, swing dance, piano and of course singing. Roger and Fran‘s marriage ended in the late 70’s. She went back to school and completed a course in word processing. She moved to her hometown, Langley in 1981, with her two boys in tow, her daughter having previously moved to the island. Fran settled in Lynnwood Washington in 1987 working at Group Health through retirement. During her career at Group Health she was admired for her accuracy and efficiency in designing and creating medical forms, moving to the head position in that department. An avid sports fan, she followed the Sonics, the Mariners and especially the Seahawks. The last time she cheered on the Seahawks was their playoff win against the Rams, putting them into the Super Bowl, which made her very happy. Services will be held at Christian Life Community Church, 1832 Scott Road Freeland, Washington on Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 2 PM.
