Francie Cowley Crus
On April, 24th 2022, our loving wife, mother, sister, and grandmother, lost her valiant battle with pancreatic cancer. She was born on the summer solstice, June 21, 1947, in San Francisco, California. Adopted parents Leonard and Lilas Cowley, raised Francie along with her brother David and sister Marilyn. They lived in Bryon, Wyoming on their family farm where Francie spent most of her youth. Lilas was a school teacher so Francie’s summers were full of long road trips, just the two of them, to visit extended family where they made many fond memories. Francie was very bright and cherished her high school years. She graduated from Byron High School in 1965, as class valedictorian.
Francie pursued her education at BYU for 2 years, and finished her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at the University of Phoenix, in 1997. She worked as Executive Director for the Utah Association of Certified Public Accountants, then as an Executive Secretary for many years at Intermountain Power Agency (IPA), in Murray, making many dear friends along the way. Later, she earned her Real Estate License working for Coldwell Banker, playing an integral part in helping clients, friends and family acquire their first home.
Francie married Michael Crus on September 28th, 1989. They were fortunate to enjoy 33 years together, both loving golf and spending as much time as possible together at their lovely home in sunny Arizona. Francie thoroughly enjoyed the sunshine, music, singing, reading, and great food, never turning down an invitation for a dinner out. She was always ready for a shopping excursion at a moment’s notice. Francie was a lover of all animals, especially dogs and all things beautiful, keeping an immaculate home and garden. She had a great knack for interior design and would often help others decorate their homes. She was an expert in gift-giving, never forgetting a Birthday, storing away in her memory an offhand comment you made regarding something you liked. Francie was an extrovert, relishing her time spent with family and friends, enjoying people in general and sharing her beaming smile with everyone she met. She was a go-getter, possessing a strong will and work ethic. She had a fun-loving personality and loved life. She was forever making us laugh with her quick- witted retorts and her timing of punch lines from endeared family jokes was impeccable. She will be deeply and endlessly missed by all who knew her. Francie is survived by husband Mike, son Travis Bradford (Lisa), from a previous marriage, daughter Tiffany Stoker (Jeremy), from a previous marriage, brother David Cowley, five beautiful grandchildren, and nieces and nephews she absolutely adored. She is preceded in death by her parents, and sister Marilyn Emmet. Our family wishes to thank surgeon Dr. Eric Sorenson, Dr. Ramya Thota and the oncology staff at IMC, IHC Home Health and Hospice for their outstanding care and kindness, and Dr. Reid Hales for his unwavering dedication and medical guidance.
A celebration of life will be on Sunday, May 1, 2022, in Francie’s honor, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Starks Funeral Parlor, 3651 South 900 East, Salt Lake City. Guests are encouraged to use the complimentary valet parking on the North side of the building. She will be laid to rest on Monday, May 2, 2022 at 11:00am, at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 East 10600 South, Sandy, Utah.
In lieu of flowers please donate to Huntsman Cancer Institute.