Frances Selig

Frances Marie Shirley was born August 19, 1922, to Leon F. and Carrie E. (Jessee) Shirley, on a farm near Olivet, Kansas. She was joined in that family by her sisters Lois (Robert Higbee), Mildred (Henry Hupp), Doris (Neil Lusk), and Joyce (Wiley Germann) and her brother Harry Shirley (Coleen). Frances grew up in the Olivet community, was a good student and the valedictorian of her class at Olivet High School. Frances married her high school sweetheart, Leonard Wayne Selig, on February 15, 1942. Among the many joys of her adult life were her family, quilting, Colorado (including Cascade Cottages near Estes Park, and their cabin and motel in Grand Lake), and volunteer ministry with Leonard in Kansas City, KS, Anadarko, OK, Green Lake, WI, and Kodiak, AK. While she enjoyed all of these, none was as important as her relationship with Leonard, which lasted 68 years until his death in 2010. Frances and Leonard moved to Clay Center in 1955. They became members of the First Baptist Church of Clay Center. Frances sang in the choir and served on education, finance, Trustee, Deaconess, and Pastoral Relations committees in the church. She was active in their Sunday School class and the Seligs formed some of their closest friendships with other families of First Baptist. When the high school was located across the street from their home on Clarke Street, Frances's kitchen was a place for students to await the start of the school day. In retirement the Selig home on Garfield became a stopping point for several Clay Center children for the hours between the end of the school day and the time their parents finished work. Frances Selig died Sunday, August 30, 2015 in Clay Center, Kansas. She was 93 years old. She was ready to be reunited with Leonard, to hear her savior's voice saying "Well done, good and faithful servant." and to begin the next part of the eternal life which was her inheritance in Christ Jesus. Frances is survived by her sister, Joyce, son, Gary (Peggy), daughter Linda, and son, Alan (Karen), 9 grandchildren (and their spouses), and 10 great grandchildren. A service of celebration and thanksgiving for her life will be held Saturday, September 5, 2015, at 10 AM at the First Baptist Church in Clay Center, Kansas, Rev. Dr. Matthew Coleman officiating. Graveside Services will be at 2:30 PM Saturday, September 5, 2015, at the Alpine Cemetery, Osage City, KS. Visitation will be from 3-8 PM Friday, at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Clay Center.