M. Frances Gaunce

M. Frances Gaunce, 97, of Louisburg died Wednesday March 18, 2009, at the rural Louisburg home of her daughter G. Susan Ewing and son-in-law Robert K. Ewing, Sr. She was born April 10, 1911, in her maternal grandmother Kieffaber"s home in Kansas City, Kansas, the 1st born daughter of Opal Julia and George Burton Mitchell. She married George Gaunce July 22, 1932 at White Church in Kansas City, Kansas. For the next two winters, because of the depression and hard times, they lived off the land in the woods, by hunting and fishing on her father"s property at "Here Tis" in the Lake of the Ozarks area. They dreamed of building a home on the lake point where they went to wash clothes. They moved back to Kansas City, where they became the parents of a daughter. In 1945 her 32 year old husband was drafted into the Army. A year after his discharge their second daughter was born. In 1953, the couple had the opportunity to buy the land on which they eventually built their dream home. Weekends and summers found friends and families helping and playing as the place was slowly being built. After Mr. Gaunce"s retirement, they lived at the Lake of the Ozarks home until poor health caused them to move back to the Louisburg area, but they still returned to their dream home on the lake whenever possible. She enjoyed cooking and canning and spending time with her family and friends. Holidays found everyone receiving homemade jelly and maybe something crocheted. She especially enjoyed the children, and she claimed to be "another Mother or Grandmother" to many children. She was a member of the First Christian Church in Louisburg and in 1981 Frances won the battle with colon cancer. Survivors include two daughters, Barbara J. Kobolt of Lenexa and G. Susan Ewing of Louisburg; two sisters, Catherine Karl of Kansas City, Ks. and Judy Johnson of Merriam, Ks; a brother, Charles Puhr of Overland Park, Ks; 16 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and 12 great-great grandchildren. First Christian Church 602 N. First St. Louisburg, KS 66053 Service: Monday, March 23, 2009 2:30 PM Visitation: Monday, March 23, 2009 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM