Frances Myrtle Hopkins (Gavin)

Sioux City - Frances Myrtle (Gavin) Hopkins of Sioux City, passed away peacefully at Holy Spirit Retirement Home Saturday, Nov. 30, 2013.
Visitation will be 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at Immaculate Conception Church. The service and a light luncheon will follow at the church. Graveside services will be later in the day in St. Ann’s Cemetery, Geddes, S.D. Arrangements are under the direction of Larkin Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Frances Hopkins was born on June 14, 1916, on a farm near Geddes, S.D. As a child, she lived on the farm where she was born and in Geddes and also in Conde, S.D. When she was a young lady, she taught country school for 10 years in a number of South Dakota country schools.
During World War II, she lived in Sioux Falls, S.D., where she met Charles Hopkins when he was stationed there while in the U.S. Army Air Corps. She married Charles on Feb. 23, 1946, at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Sioux Falls shortly after he was discharged at the end of the war.
The Hopkins family lived in a number of towns in Kansas, South Dakota, and Iowa including Ellis, Kan., Marty Mission, S.D., Lake Andes, S.D., Correctionville, Iowa, Elk Point, S.D., and Sioux City. Frances was the wife of a high school music teacher and Charles taught in a number of different locations. However, since 1960, Frances lived in Sioux City, where Charles was the band director at Bishop Heelan High School for many years.
Frances gave generously of herself to her family, her church, and everyone she met. When her mother, Anna Gavin was in declining health, Frances took her mother into her own home and cared for her for a number of years until she passed away. Frances also was a constant, behind-the-scenes assistant to her husband helping with, among other things, the annual Heelan band bazaar fundraisers and the care, fitting, and proper storage of band uniforms. She was an active member of Immaculate Conception Parish Ladies Altar Society. At one point, she also served as a substitute teacher at Immaculate Conception Grade School when a need arose.
In recent years, Frances has been a resident within the Holy Spirit Retirement Home where she leaves many friends among the residents and staff.
Francis Hopkins was an Irish Catholic lady. She carried herself with quiet dignity, always conscious of the needs of others, but rarely asking for help for herself. She saw a silver lining in every dark cloud.
Frances suffered a series of strokes about two weeks prior to her passing. The strokes left her with serious limitations. Her mind was clear and sharp until the end. When necessary, Frances made decisions easily including end of life decisions.
She is survived by her son, Fred; his wife, Ruth; and their three children, Kyle (wife, Emily), Anna, and Mary Ruth, all of whom reside in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Frances also is survived by one sister-in-law, Earlien Gavin of Sioux Falls; a number of nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews; and a few cousins.
Frances was preceded in death by her mother, Anna (Loftus) Gavin; her father, John Gavin (flu epidemic, 1920); husband, Charles; and her brothers, Edward, Leonard, and Owen Gavin.
She will be sorely missed.