Frances Shutiok

Frances Ann Makara Shutiok

Tupelo - Frances Ann Makara Shutiok was born April 15, 1941 in Akron, Ohio. She died at NMMC on October 8, 2017.

She retired from NMMC business and billing office where she started working in 1982. Prior to then, she worked for RD Seating part-time and earlier was a hard-working stay home mom of four girls.

She had many hobbies (sewing, painting, miscellaneous crafts) through the years but her greatest talent was being a friend. She was often the person called for wit and wisdom. She spent many hours visiting or talking on the phone to anyone that needed a sounding board or sympathetic listener. She wrote beautiful newsletters each Christmas and kept in touch with friends and family from all around the country. She wrote touching letters and notes to those in need of kind words. She enjoyed Facebook and the avenue it gave her to share inspiration and jokes while staying in touch with a wider community of friends. Her family was her purpose in life. She was proud of her daughters and grandchildren. To say she will be missed is an understatement.

Fran was raised in the Russian Orthodox Church in Ohio and joined All Saints Episcopal Church when she moved to Tupelo with her husband and daughter in 1963. She spent many years serving the church through Altar Guild, Food Fair/Bazaar, Sunday School teacher, Vestry, Daughter of the King, Holy Folders and more. She was an avid Prayer Warrior for people she knew and loved and many she didn’t know but prayed for and loved anyway.

Losing her mom at the age of ten, Fran prayed that God would allow her to live long enough to raise her daughters to adulthood. God granted her that prayer request and the prayer request for several extensions that she asked for through the years. Her extensions ran out as God saw it best to let her tired body rest.

She is survived by her daughters, Deanna Alford (Tony) of Tupelo, Donna Timmons (Phil) of Tupelo and Denise Medders of Longview, Texas; two granddaughters, Katelyn and Makara; seven grandsons, Lee, Forrest, Ben, Ethan, Garrett, Ezekiel, and Elias; and many more dear friends.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents who helped raise her, her parents, Helen and John Makara, her husband, Don Shutiok, her daughter, Debbie Shutiok and several dear friends.

Services will be 3 p.m. Thursday, October 12, 2017 at All Saint's Episcopal Church in Tupelo with Dr. Kenny King officiating and Dr. Billy Walton assisting.

Visitation will be from 5 until 7 p.m. Wednesday, October 11, 2017 and 2 p.m. until service time Thursday, October 12, 2017 at All Saint's Episcopal Church.

Fran was an avid supporter of many charitable organizations that will greatly miss her so, in lieu of flowers, “because flowers are for the living,” donations should be made to All Saints Episcopal Church Building fund, Rector’s Discretionary fund, Saints Brew, or your favorite charity in her honor.

Expressions of sympathy may be left at www.peguesfuneralhome.com .