Obituary
N. Frances Boardway, 84, of Ocala, FL passed away on January 19, 2017 at her home. Her death was caused by complications stemming from Parkinson’s Disease. Christened Nettie Frances, she was the daughter of Bertha Frances Gurkin Power and Thornton Gurkin of Hopewell, VA, where she was raised by her mother and step-father, Woodson B. Power. In her youth, she was affectionately known as “Pudge”. After marrying her husband, John, they made their home in Bel Air, MD for 52 years before moving to Ocala in 2005. Frances worked as a telephone operator and a dental assistant/office manager; however, her first love was nursing. After achieving her LPN license, she worked at Hartford Memorial Hospital and John Hopkins. Later she helped to open Fallston General Hospital, where she stayed until it closed and moved to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center. Fran remained on staff part-time with the Health Link group until she retired in 2005 after 31 years of service. In addition to her involvement with nursing care, she was an avid reader, loved to make a wide variety of crafts and her cakes and fudge acquired a significant following in the medical community. She loved to shop for bargains and was a serious collector of figurines, including Precious Moments, doctors and nurses, and bald headed Santa Clauses. Her favorite recreations were dancing and being a ‘beach bum.’ Fran is survived by her loving husband of 63 years, John C Boardway of Ocala, FL; her son, Gordon Randolph Boardway of Orlando, FL; daughter-in-law, Gail Boardway of Orlando, FL; two grandchildren, Georgia Lynne Boardway and Preston Scott Boardway; two great granddaughters all of Orlando, FL. Fran is also survived by two sisters, Linda Lovelady and Nancye Martin both of Hopewell, VA. She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Shirley Cotman of Hopewell, VA. Private family services will be held at a later date. The family asks that in lieu of flowers make donations in her name to Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, PO BOX 5014 Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014.
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