Frances Hess Reilly, 98

Frances Fay Hess Reilly was born March 3, 1917, at her family farm in Victor. She and her twin brother, Herbert, were delivered by the next door neighbor during a severe March snowstorm. Their combined weight was less than five pounds.

Frances peacefully “went to heaven,” Dec. 20, 2015, at the age of 98. She was fully active and involved with life and family up to her final day here on earth.

 Frances often shared her many wonderful memories of growing up in the shadow of the Bitterroot Mountains in the early 20th century. Her father, Albert Hess, and her mother, Hattie Stockman Hess, were the epitome of “Montana tough” and Frances inherited their strength and fortitude. Albert arrived in Montana in the late 1800s seeking a life in the West. He met Hattie in Missoula and together they farmed and ranched near St. Ignatius and then settled on the east side of the Bitterroot Valley in Victor to farm, ranch, run a large dairy and raise seven children. Frances and Herbert were the youngest.

Frances attended the University of Montana in Missoula for one year and then transferred to Dillon where she graduated and obtained her teaching credentials. Her first teaching assignment was the elementary school in Corvallis. She continued to teach for many years in various grades and many places.

While in Dillon she met the love of her life, Thomas James Reilly of Jefferson City. They were married Thanksgiving Day 1941 at her family farm in Victor. Thomas completed Officer Training School and was promptly inducted into the military after the attack on Pearl Harbor. Thus began a life of challenge and adventure for Frances as the wife of a career officer in the Air Force.

Thomas and Frances celebrated 64 years of marriage. She guided her family through three wars, many moves and multiple challenges with her wisdom, courage and faith. Someone once asked her what her “secret” to long life was. Her answer was, “Stay flexible!” To that she added her deep trust in God’s provision at all times and every situation.

Frances loved being a homemaker, mother, wife and teacher. Frances loved her students and they loved her back. She was an advocate for her children and her students, instilling in them her belief in a future and a hope. She was a wonderful cook and seamstress. Frances loved and appreciated all the arts, especially music and painting. She loved to play bridge and actively played up to the weeks before her passing on. She truly enjoyed people and always made friends wherever she was. Frances remained curious and actively learning throughout her life. That engagement with life made her a great friend to young and old alike.

She taught Sunday School faithfully for many years and was always involved with a Bible study. The first task she always undertook settling her family into a new community was to find a home church. Her Bible is still open to her last reading on the table where she left it near her cup of coffee.

For we children, Mom was the rock and the glue that kept our lives stable as we were transferred throughout our father’s military career. Her son, Tom Jr., wrote of Mom: “She was simply the best of the best, the shining example of what every son would want their mother to be. She was as tender as every loving mother is supposed to be and as tough as every loving mother ought to be.” Her family all agree.

“I pray that everyone who meets you will catch your faith and learn from you how wonderful it is to be in Christ Jesus.” Philemon 6.

Frances lived up to that admonition whether at home, in town, teaching a class, in church, at the bridge table or with her family.

Frances is survived by son, Thomas J. Reilly Jr., and wife Linda, of Macedonia; daughters, Carol Frances Tuel of Texas, and Kathleen Johnson and husband Rey, and Sarah Hardey of Bigfork. Frances leaves behind 12 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren as well as dearly loved nieces and nephews.

A service and interment at Fort Missoula will be announced at a date to be determined in the summer.