Patsy Ruth Fransway passed away at her home in Winnemucca on October 2, 2022.
Born in Menard, Illinois, to parents Roscoe Welch and Susie Gordon Welch on May 24, 1930, Patsy was an only child who spent many happy hours with multiple generations of cousins, aunts and uncles.
She attended school in southern Illinois until her teens, moving to southern California with her mother and stepdad, Susie and Walter Carter.
The family joke was that Patsy needed to move from southern Illinois so that she wouldn’t end up married to a cousin or some other shirt-tail relative. Patsy attended but did not complete high school in Banning, California.
She eventually settled in Fallbrook, California, where all four of her children were born in a one-room hospital.
In Fallbrook, Patsy learned how to drive, belonged to a riding club, and began special lifelong friendships.
She was embraced by her Donalson in-laws, many of whom lived nearby in southern California.
In the winter of 1956, Patsy and husband Cliff Donalson packed up kids, dogs, horses and all their worldly belongings to move to Flat Creek Ranch north of Orovada with Bob Hadley, who went there to manage a ranch his father had purchased.
Living at Flat Creek Ranch with small children and Mary Hadley, another young mother, was the source of many adventures.
Patsy and family subsequently lived at Hadley ranches in Beowawe and Carlin, Nevada, returning to Orovada to homestead 160 acres and manage a feedyard for the Hadleys.
Pete and Bessie Christensen, owners of the Orovada Mercantile, became Patsy’s surrogate parents and the children’s surrogate grandparents.
In addition to working on the family farm and the Hadley feed yard, Patsy worked at the store for Pete and Bessie and eventually became Orovada postmaster.
She was a 4-H leader, founding member of Cowbelles, and a powerful advocate for all of the activities her children participated in.
Patsy sewed graduation and prom dresses and cheerleader outfits. She was always late, so once the kids got their driver’s licenses, they said, “We’ll meet you there, Mom.”
In 1969 when her marriage with Cliff ended, Patsy transferred to the post office in Carson City where she sorted and delivered mail.
A lifelong Republican, Patsy enjoyed living in the state capitol where she made new friends, developing lifelong connections from her years there.
Having been profoundly affected by the Great Depression in the 1930s and by World War II, Patsy generously donated money to charities that benefited children and veterans.
As a breast cancer survivor, Patsy often called up friends and acquaintances who were recently diagnosed and undergoing treatment to offer encouragement and fellowship. In her lifetime, she knitted and gave away many Afghans and baby blankets.
In 1973, Patsy married John Fransway and moved to Winnemucca. There was something magical about the relationship between Patsy and John -- their shared interests and attitudes, their love of people and politics.
Patsy worked at the Winnemucca Post Office until John retired. Together, Patsy and John fished, traveled in their RV, flew in John’s Cessna 180, and entertained friends and family wherever they went.
It was not unusual for family to gather during holidays and school breaks and for friends to come stay for a week or so at their homes on Lake Mead and in Eureka on the California coast.
When John died in 1995, Patsy found her way back to Winnemucca. She joined the Eagles, volunteered with the hospital auxiliary, and rekindled old friendships.
Patsy was an avid football fan and rooted for the Pittsburg Steelers, watching them take several titles over the years.
She instilled in her children a love of reading, learning, and travel. Patsy often initiated conversation with strangers in line at the grocery store or while waiting in airports.
She relished visits with her grandchildren and great grandchildren, some of whom traveled from Canada and Alaska to spend time with her. Patsy loved the desert and being near water at Lake Mead and on the Pacific Coast.
She discovered a love of cats late in her life; having cats was forever entertaining, gave her new conversational topics and distracted her from the ravages of aging and medical concerns.
Patsy was preceded in death by life-long friends from her days in southern California Mary Hadley and Dee Bergamini; father Roscoe Welch, stepfather Walt Carter, and mother Susie Webb; husband John Fransway; and beloved cats Theo, Dimitri and Quincy.
She is survived by stepchildren Tom (Ria) Fransway and Myrna (Tom) Marley; children Vicki Meissner, Bill (Ferol) Donalson, Linda Donalson, and Bob (Sharon) Donalson; 9 grandchildren; 25 great grandchildren; 5 great greats and numerous nieces and nephews; and cats Roxy, Laiya and Callie.
The family wishes to thank Angie’s Angels, especially Esther and Cheralee, and Guiding Light Hospice, especially Thea, Michael and Yesenia.
Thanks also to Rolfe and Cathy Schwartz of Keystone Veterinary for taking such good care of Patsy’s cats over the years. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity in Patsy’s name.
There will be a celebration of life on October 14, 10:30-12:30, at Sonoma Funeral Home with cookies and beverages.
