Frances Arlene Hemphill was born on July 10, 1934, in Westwood, CA. At the age of nine, her family moved to Susanville, CA. after the Red River Lumber Company Mill closed. She graduated from Lassen High School in 1952. She married JD Hemphill September 13, 1963. Fran and JD had two sons, Joe, and Jeff. She was also blessed to have had raised her nephews Dave and Mike Neill for a time. Many happy memories were made on the ranch where they milked cows until 1973 and then changed operations to raising beef cattle and alfalfa hay. Fran went to work at Sierra Army Depot for approximately thirty-four years, running the blood bank, and munitions to name a few of her areas of expertise. She was awarded Woman of the Year out at the depot.
Fran was passionate about many things, but putting smiles on children’s faces was her priority. She became a 4-H leader in the early 1970’s and taught Sunday School at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. Fran was the leader for Lake 4-H for several decades, teaching kids the fundamentals of 4-H, taking kids on 4-H trips to Washington DC and oh yes, the Fair! She and JD were Grand Marshalls for the Lassen County Fair parade, and she received Old Timer of the Year as well. She was inducted into the Lassen County 4-H Hall of Fame. She was well known for her fundraising capabilities, especially when it was a family in need.
Fran loved St. Bernard dogs and we can’t even remember how many Heidi’s we had at the ranch. She passed peacefully on April 17, 2024, in Mount Pleasant Texas. She is survived by her son Joseph and wife Rhonda of Mount Pleasant, TX. and son Jeffery and wife Nancy of Janesville, CA.  She has three granddaughters, Jessica Hemphill and Kendra Cloudt (Tyrel) of Mount Pleasant, TX., and Abigail Hemphill of Janesville, CA. She has two great granddaughters Kaylee and Kaycee Cloudt of Mount Pleasant, TX. Her sister Carolyn “Gekie” Danford of Orangevale, CA., her brother James Webb of Reno, NV. and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Services will be held on May 6, 2024, 1:00pm at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, First and Ash St. Susanville, CA. Following the service, she will be laid to rest at Janesville cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held after the burial at Jensen Hall 3:00pm.
In lieu of flowers, a bank account, Fran’s Bench Fund, will be at Plumas Bank 3000 Riverside Dr. Susanville, CA. 96130. Donations will be accepted for the construction of a bench as a memorial to Fran to be placed at Lassen County Fairgrounds.
