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Frances “Fran” Muriel Fair, 90, passed away Saturday, March 9, 2013. She was born March 5, 1923, in Elkhart, IN, the daughter of Charles and Iva Bell (Forker) Hostetter. She was raised in the Elkhart/Bristol area, graduating from Bristol High School. She lived in the Elkhart area until she met and married Dwight “Dike” Fair in 1951. They moved to Three Rivers in 1956.
Fran was first and foremost a mother, actively involved in everything from PTA to scouting. Before macular degeneration took her vision, she loved to knit, crochet, bead and read. She was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church, and a long-time Three Rivers Hospital Guild volunteer. She and Dike enjoyed spending time at their cottage on Clear Lake with their children and grandchildren, and for many years camped in Hart, MI with other Three Rivers friends. Fran always looked forward to her Thursday luncheons with her long-time friends Thelma James, Mary Miller, Jean Harmon and Lori Moore.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Dike, two grandsons, Brett Bailey and Jonathan Fair; her brother Chuck Hostetter; and a sister, Phyllis Bourn.
Surviving are her sons and daughters: Barbara (Harold) Clipfell of Montgomery, MI; Charles Fair of Three Rivers; Mary (Dave) Dechow of Three Rivers; Jim (Judy) Fair of Elkhart; and Alice “Cooky” (Dan) Bailey of Edwardsburg. Also surviving are 10 grandchildren – Matt (Trish) Clipfell of Kalamazoo; Deb (Mark) Gragg of Grand Blanc; Christine (Dale) Palmer of Toledo; Andy Clipfell of Carleton; Molly (Bob) Rentz of Athens, GA; Scott (Toyna) and Mark (Melanie) Fair, both of Elkhart; Jeremy (Madeline) Fair of South Lyon; Becky (Scott) Anson of Edwardsburg; and Bobbi (Mike) Friend of Whitehall. Other survivors include 24 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great granddaughter, plus her siblings. Jack (Phyllis) Hostetter of Bristol; Tom (Jackie) Hostetter of Middlebury; Sheryl Van Noty of Elkhart; Marilyn Fair of Vandalia; and Bruce Hostetter of Elkhart.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 from 11:30 until time of services at 1:00p.m at Hohner Funeral Home, 1004 Arnold St; Three Rivers, MI 49093 with Pastor Karleen Kinker officiating. Interment will take place at Riverside Cemetery in Three Rivers. Memorials in memory of Fran may be directed to The Brett Bailey Scholarship Fund (c/o GW Jones Bank, 69139 M-62 South, Edwardsburg, MI 49112), the Animal Rescue Fund , or the Charity of One’s Choice. Envelopes available at Hohner Funeral Home in care of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.hohnerfh.com.
