Obituary
Frances Fern Buchan (Palmer)
Frances Fern Buchan (Palmer) passed away 21 July 2023 at the Orlando Advent Hospital. She celebrated her 102 birthday April 3rd of this year. Frances was born in Rosedale, Kansas on April 3, 1921 to Hattie E. Palmer and Holly H. Palmer. She was number 5 of 12 children. Frances grew up in the Kansas City area and in 1933 baptized in Roanoke Christian Church. She attended Wyandotte High School and during her junior year quit school to help her family. She worked doing various jobs until WWII.
During WWII, Frances worked at the Lake City Ammunition Plant and the Sunshine Ordinance Plant, making 50 caliber bullets for the military. When the war ended, she went to work for National Bella Hess. She married Edward E. Breece in 1946 and they had two children. Frances quit work to raise the children and became the PTA President at Riverview Elementary. Frances and Edward were also involved in establishing a Chapter for the Hemophilia Foundation in Kansas City area. Their son was a Hemophilia and in 1947 there was not much information about the disease. Frances returned to work for National Bella Hess once more in the early 1960’s.
Frances and her daughter moved to San Jose, California in 1963. She worked as a supervisor of the main Salvation Army store. She married Joseph D. Harper in 1964. When he passed in 1973, she moved to be with her daughter, who was serving in the Navy. She loved to travel and moving every two or three years fit her to a “T”. She lived in San Jose and Lemoore, California, where she went back to high school to earn her diploma. They transferred to Oklahoma City, and Orlando, Florida. She made numerous friends along the way and always would write and telephone them. After moving to Orlando, she met John (Jack) Buchan and married once again. When her daughter transferred to San Diego, she remained in Orlando with her new husband. Frances still liked to travel and twice visited her daughter in Hawaii.
Jack and her remained in Orlando until 1988, when they decided to retire to a smaller, quieter, slower pace city. They bought a home in Garnett, Kansas. Frances was happy as she got to visit her son Paul and his family and her own family. Unfortunately, Jack died of cancer in May 1990. She remained in Garnett busying herself making quilts attending Kansas Historical Society meetings and being involved with Garnett Baptist Church.
In 1998, Frances returned to Orlando, FL., after the death of her son as she wanted to be near her daughter Sharon. She became a member of the Goldenrod Baptist Church and after it closed, became a member of the Living Hope Church. The last year of her life, she still loved to ride in a car and until her last days Hallmark was her favorite television station. She will be buried in the Canaveral National Cemetery, Mims, Florida.
Frances, is survived by her daughter Sharon Breece, Winter Park, Fl., Daughter-in-law, Anne Breece, Overland Park, KS, Granddaughter Kelly Wright and husband Darren Wright, Overland Park, Ks., and Great Grand Children Madison Ludwig, Edmond, OK., Stuart Wright, Detroit, Michigan and Friend/Caregiver, Sharon Whisonant, Winter Park, FL.
Your daughter, Sharon