Frances (Henneke) Buck left this world on her own terms Dec. 14, 2024, four days before her 84th birthday.
As a writer herself, Frances would be the first to admit that she’d be more suited to compose her own obituary than her journalist son. Under the current circumstances, you’ll just have to take my word for it.
Frances was born Dec. 18, 1940, to Naomi and Raymond Grantham, in Oceanside, California. Frances enjoyed growing up in California with her sister, Mary Ann. (Two brothers passed away shortly after they were born.) She was introduced to journalism at Fallbrook High School where she graduated in 1958.
She married John McLaughlin soon after she graduated and gave birth to a daughter Donna in 1959. They later divorced. On April 20, 1965, Frances married Marvin “Mike” Henneke, and eventually moved to Port Orchard, Washington. In 1967, she and Mike adopted a son, Michael. In 1973, they moved to Forks, Washington, where Frances resided for nearly 40 years. Her marriage to Mike ended in 1977.
As she worked to support herself and her two children, Frances came into her own. Throughout her life, she worked as a telephone operator, a writer at the Forks Forum, a police dispatcher, and most notably as the branch manager of the Forks Library for 23 years until she retired in 2002. In addition to her employment, she enjoyed serving in her church and community.
As an avid gardener she created a beautiful oasis on her property that several of her grandchildren have lovingly referred to as “The Secret Garden.” She taught herself photography, the art of beachcombing, rock polishing, family history research, home maintenance, Native American basket weaving, drumming, etc.
During the last season of her life she married her friend and sweetheart Joe Buck on July 5, 2001. They enjoyed six years of marriage until he sadly passed away of cancer in 2007.
Frances spent the last several years of her life living near family in western Oregon.
She is survived by her two children, a son-in-law and daughter-in-law, seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, two grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Frances once wrote, “The source of life is a mystery to many. But, it is not the source that is most important-it is the fact that life is, and what follows including the day to day changes, the growing, the learning, and the sharing with others. It is the end that counts and not the beginning.”
The family plans a private celebration of life in her honor later next year.
