Frances Emry Tompkins Everett, 87, of Lake City, also known as "Big Mammie" to her great-grandchildren and their friends, died Friday afternoon, November 9th, 2007 at her residence surrounded by her family. Julia Frances Staley was born on May 30, 1920 in Harvey, Iowa to Lewis N. Staley and Twila Katherine (Woody) Staley. She was raised in Knoxville, Iowa. On October 24, 1936 she married Charlie C. Emry from Ottumwa, Iowa. They lived in Knoxville where their two daughters were raised. They eventually moved to Lake City, FL in 1960 to be near their grandchildren. Charlie died March 21, 1968. Frances married Clifford Pratt Tompkins in 1969. They and their adult children and grandchildren shared a wonderful life. They were members of the First Advent Christian Church and Frances sang in the choir for ten years and was a deaconess. Clifford died in 1983. In 1993 she married Wallace Everett (deceased).

In the early years of LCCC (Forest Ranger School), Frances attended college for six months at night to get a certificate in food management and started the snack bar at the college where she worked for six years. She was owner and operator of Tompkins Catering at Guerdon?s mobile home plant.

Frances enjoyed helping others. She volunteered at the V.A. Hospital and the Christian Service Center. In her younger years she cooked for and transported her older neighbors to Jacksonville for doctor?s appointments and therapy. She also worked as the receptionist in her son-in-laws optometric office. She loved cooking, working in the yard, traveling and taking care of her family. Frances was very active in her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren?s lives and their endeavors. Her energy and active life was awesome. She worked hard all her life and was very independent. Mrs. Everett was preceded in death by her grandson Steven Emry Schwartz (Patricia), her granddaughter, Brenda Frances Schwartz and her brothers and sisters, Merle Staley, Beryl Staley, Lila Still and Mary Hopka.

Mrs. Everett is survived by two daughters, Jackie Schwartz (Louis) and Georgetta Ebelsheiser, Lake City; grandsons, Michael Schwartz (Denise) and Chris Ebelsheiser (Laura), Lake City; great grandchildren, Michelle Mann (Robert), Bryan Schwartz (Phalon), Amber Roebuck (Casey), Steven Michael Schwartz, Renee? Parish, all of Lake City and Kristina Edens (Robert) and Stephen Ebelsheiser (Christina), Georgia; nine great-great grandchildren, a sister Bernadine Cronenberg, Grants Pass OR; and numerous nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services for Mrs. Everett will be conducted at 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, November 14, 2007 at Gateway-Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Gerald Smith officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held from 5:00-7:00 P.M. Tuesday evening at the funeral home. In Lieu of flowers donations may be made to Haven Hospice, Suwannee Valley Care Center, 6037 Highway 90 West, Lake City, FL 32055. Arrangements are under the direction of GATEWAY-FOREST LAWN FUNERAL HOME, 3596 S. HWY 441, Lake City. (386) 752-1954. Please sign the guest book at www.gatewayforestlawn.com