COLOMBE, Frances E.

        Frances Eunice (Mershon) Colombe of Lake Millis, Wis., age 91, passed peacefully into the next life the morning of Tuesday, Sept. 6, 2005, at her daughter's home in Lake Mills.
        She was born on May 5, 1914, in Sallisaw, Okla., daughter of Fred and Constance (Waite) Mershon. She was especially proud of her French and Cherokee Indian heritage. Her parents were influential in the founding of the Oklahoma Territories, where they were school teachers. Frances completed high school in Sallisaw and then attended the  Oklahoma College for Women. She met and married her husband, Hubert, in 1937. in Washington, D.C. Frances was a paralegal for the federal government most of her working life, and upon retirement enjoyed many hobbies, her favorite being china painting. She lived in Albuquerque, N.M. for 35 years, and moved to Wisconsin in 2001 to be near her daughter. The final two years of her life were some of her happiest, when she moved to Meriter Heights, downtown Madison. She made many new friends there.
        She is survived by a daughter, Denise (Roland) Frye of Lake Mills; a son, Philip (Kathy) Colombe of Albuquerque, N.M.; five grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Frances was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Hubert; a son, Andrew; her sisters, Lena and Robbie; and her brother, Bill. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Sept. 11, 2005, at 1:30 p.m. at the CLAUSSEN FUNERAL HOME, 416 W. Lake St., Lake Mills. The Rev. Russ Leeper of Burke Lutheran Church, Madison, will be officiating. Memorials may be made to Rainbow Hospice of Jefferson."