Mary Benson

Mary Frances Benson passed away quietly and peacefully in her home on Saturday, November 21, 2009. Mary Frances was born to Oshel Jennings Wolfe and Delsie May Quigley Wolfe Gresham July 18, 1933 in Charleston West Virginia. After raising her family in California, she lived briefly in Colorado and has been a resident of Lake Havasu City for the last 18 years. She is survived by her loving and devoted husband Gerald E. Benson; loving daughters Terri Ann (Patrick) Lynch of Yucaipa CA, Tina Lynn (Richard) Busby of Phoenix, AZ and Toni Arlene (Ronald) Weyrick of Lake Havasu City, AZ; loving brothers Nick (Sue) Wolfe of Lake Havasu City AZ, Eugene (Sharron) Wolfe of Oakhurst CA, and loving sister Rebecca Dale (Ronald) Smith of Lake Havasu City AZ. She is also survived by her loving grandchildren William Aaron Tanner Jr. of Gotenba Japan, Richard Anthony Tanner of Moreno Valley CA, Courtney Allen Tanner of Ontario CA, Christopher James (Lindsey Diane) Busby of Austin TX, Jessica Lynn (Stanford Lyndon) McDonald of Nashville TN, Jacob Allen (Meggie Catherine) Busby of Phoenix AZ, Angela Dawn (Christopher Lee) Banks of Lake Havasu City AZ and Brandi Arlene (Scott Andrew) Stokes of Lake Havasu City AZ. Mary Frances recently became a great grandmother and she enjoyed visits from her great grandson Jeremiah Michael Stokes of Lake Havasu City AZ and Luna Brooke Busby of Phoenix AZ. Mary was also loved by her husband’s family: twin brother Garrett W. Benson of Castle Rock CO, daughters Linda Lou Thompson of Crab Orchard KY and Brenda (Robert) Whiteagle of Salamanca NY; nephew Timothy Benson and great nephew Daniel Benson of Castle Rock CO; grandson Matthew (Hollie) Benson and great grandson Matthew Benson of Fruita CO. Mary was preceded in death by her parents, her step-father Clifford D. Gresham and her husband of 35 years Frederick R. Cain. Mary (Fran) Benson had many friends with whom she always enjoyed sharing a laugh and a smile. She loved to read, dance, bowl and play slots. For many years she bowled with local leagues. Along with her husband, Gerry she enjoyed numerous worldwide cruises and involvement in the Lake Havasu Yacht, Eagles, Shriners and American Legion clubs. Services for Mary Frances Benson will be held at 11am, Saturday, November 28, 2009 in the chapel at Lake Havasu Mortuary & Crematory to be followed by burial at Havasu Memorial Gardens. An open viewing will be held from 4pm until 9pm on Friday, Nov 29, 2009 in the chapel of Lake Havasu Mortuary & Crematory. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Mary Frances Benson to Mayo Clinic (for breast cancer research) 13400 E Shea Blvd. Scottsdale, AZ 85259 or The Breast Cancer Research Foundation 60 East 56th Street, 8th Floor, New York NY 10022 with acknowledgements to be sent to Terri Lynch 36139 Tamarisk Circle, Yucaipa CA 92399 or Hospice of Havasu, 365 South Lake Havasu Avenue, Lake Havasu City AZ, 86406 Arrangements were entrusted to Lake Havasu Mortuary & Crematory. Thoughts and condolences can be sent to the family at lakehavasumortuary.com