Frances M. Yocum's Obituary
Frances May Yocum, 94, of Decatur passed away on Sunday, August 31, 2014 in Decatur Memorial Hospital.
A funeral service to celebrate Frances’ life will be 11 AM Thursday, September 4, 2014 in Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home with Pastor Sig Bjorklund officiating. Visitation will be 10-11 AM Thursday in the funeral home. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery with military rites conducted by the Macon County Honor Guard. Memorials are suggested to American Heart Disease, Grace United Methodist Church or donor’s choices.
Frances was born on April 11, 1920 in Taylorville, IL the daughter of Theodore P. and Goldie I. (Montgomery) May. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church for over 70 years. She graduated form Decatur High School in 1938, and won the Herald & Review Story Contest in 1937. She graduated from Dickinson Secretarial School, and began as her career as a secretary to a lawyer, worked several places and then moved to Ann Arbor, MI where she worked for the Interlochen National Music Company in Interlochen, MI. She then enlisted in US Marine Corps from 1943-1945. She did basic training in Camp Lejeune, NC and then was stationed in Camp Elliot near San Diego, CA. She attained the rank of Staff Sergeant, was secretary to the commandant. Part of her duties were to cut orders for some celebrities, Tyrone Powers, Robert Ryan, and had one date with actor Glen Ford and two weeks later he married dancing star Eleanor Powell. After being discharged she returned to Ann Arbor, MI where she met and married Anthony F. Yocum an attorney, the son of William and Mary Yocum of Jackson, MI. Tony and Fran were blessed with one son Philip Scott Yocum on April 14, 1947. Anthony became hospitalized in 1949 and spent the rest of his life in the Veteran’s Hospital in Danville, IL till his death. Frances moved back to Decatur and made a home for her son. She worked for Taylor Pharmaceutical, Cash Valve, and when G.E. started operations was hired for secretary to the plant manager after G.E. left she went back to college and attained a BA and a Masters in Human Development Counseling at Sangamon State University. When her son was in MacArthur High School, he went to Germany for a year as an American Field Service Exchange student. After graduating from high school he attended the U of I Champaign, graduating Magna Cum Laude and a plaque for scholastic achievement hangs in the library at the U. of I. He returned to Germany and graduated from The Free University of Berlin, came back to the USA and attended MIT, graduated with a Masters in Political Science. He began his career working for Congressman Lee Hamilton in Washington, D.C. on his return to Decatur he worked at several positions, his last being for Country Life Insurance of Bloomington, IL. He was hospitalized on August 13, 2002 and passed away on September 12, 2002.
Frances leaves behind one sister, Laura Theodelle May; faithful and loving cousins Carolyn Schafer of Princeton, IL; Jordan Schafer of Dallas, TX; Jackie Lencioni of Saugatuck, MI Lynn Ground of Boca Raton, FL; Diane and David Sigler of Bloomington, IL; Charley and Sherry May of Decatur, IL; and a very loyal, dear friend Lorena Johnson of Decatur, IL.
She was preceded by her parents and son.
The family would like to give a big thank you to the nurses and CNA’s on the 5100th floor, and also, DMH Hospice.
Fran will be greatly missed by her sister, relatives and friends.
The family of Frances May Yocum is being served by Graceland/Fairlawn Funeral Home, 2091 N. Oakland Ave. Decatur, IL 62526. Send condolences to the family at www.gracelandfairlawn.com.
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