Frances Mae "Fran" (Rogers) Morey

Frances Mae (Rogers) ”Fran” Morey

CALEDONIA, N.Y. – A bright light has gone out on Church Street. She was a well-known resident in this town, from her teaching days to her daily walk around Caledonia, always with a smile. Frances Mae (Rogers) “Fran” Morey passed away on January 20, 2024, at The Episcopal Church Home in Rochester after years of suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. She was kind, feisty and witty, enthusiastic, full of boundless curiosity as well as being a traditionalist, dedicated to her family.

Fran was born in the parlor on April 27, 1935, to Mildred Mae (Huff) Rogers and Francis Carson Rogers, “Carson” in Nottingham Township, Harrison County, Ohio. Raised on a farm with siblings Harold and Mary, she could drive a tractor and at the age of 12, drive a car. She also got all A’s. Her education began at Ourant’s School, a one-room schoolhouse, then to Barrett’s Schoolhouse (2 rooms) from 2nd- 8th grade. She was the Valedictorian at Cadiz High School. Fran attended Ohio University in 1951, earning a Bachelor of Arts in English. She was also the Women’s Vice- President her senior year.

She met James Newman Morey at college, and they married a few years later in Perry, New York. After living in North Carolina and Ohio, they finally settled in Caledonia with their three children, Allison, David and John. In 1974, Fran started working at Caledonia-Mumford Elementary School as the remedial reading teacher, a job she loved. While raising the kids and working full-time, she took night courses at SUNY Geneseo for 5 years and earned her Master of Science in Education. Fran retired in 1997 but continued to substitute teach.

Fran enjoyed reading and tracing our family roots which she would present at annual family reunions. She compiled yearly family scrapbooks. She recruited many of us, including Steve and Terry to accompany her on her numerous excursions to see new and interesting (or not) places. Driving down a country road, she would exclaim, “This is God’s country!” She loved flowers, gardening and just being outdoors; walking in the woods, Oatka Park, the beautiful land in Cadiz, and her favorite, Letchworth State Park, where we often had picnics and hikes, rain, or shine. Fran was always fiercely devoted and loving to her children and her grandchildren. She was a fun and wacky Memaw who had bonfires, walked the railroad tracks with the kids, took them regularly to the Scottsville Diner, on trips, and attended their school activities and recitals. She was a traditionalist who hosted family gatherings and her yearly Open House after Christmas. Years ago, she hosted neighborhood caroling parties and Halloween parties which always ended up at our house. Finally, Fran supported the Coca-Cola industry all her life until she was 88. There was rarely a moment when she didn’t have a coke in her hand. A coke and a smile!

Her survivors include her brother, Harold C. Rogers (Shirley, predeceased), three children, Allison M. (Dennis) Hays, David N. Morey, John R. Morey, “adopted son,” Stephen R. Morey and four grandchildren, Zachary J. (Al) Hays, Alexandra C. (Charles) Mott, Carson J. Morey and Sydney S. Morey, and one great grandson, Jackson J. Mott, survived by several nieces and nephews, also by a very close family friend, Terry L. Brew.

Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Shirley J. Rogers, Her sister, Mary L. Rogers, Aunt Ada L. Snodgrass, as well as her former husband and friend, James N. Morey.

Fran will be laid to rest in Glenwood cemetery in Perry.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, June 8th from 11:00 am - 2:30 pm, our family will be hosting a Celebration of Life Service for our Mom at Letchworth State Park, which was her favorite place to be. The location is the Open Highbanks Pavilion, located exactly 3 miles from the Mt. Morris entrance. Once you pass the pool, take a left into the parking lot, and drive straight across. We are the large pavilion. The park does not let seniors in for free on the weekends ($10.00 per car) so please carpool.

We welcome those who have a connection, warm attachment or fond memories of our Mom. Make sure you bring your Mrs. Morey's stories to share with us. Dress casually, but also for the weather. There will be a picnic so please let us know if you can attend by May 24th. If you can come, include the number of people who will be with you. RSVP to: allisonmhays@gmail.com or call: (518) 344-9666.

In lieu of flowers, we suggest that donations go to the Alzheimer's Association. Go to:act.alz.org/albany/walk and look up my name: Allison Hays. Then follow the prompts.