Recent Obituaries

Francis Wilbert Gough, AKA Fran or Franny or Papa or Grandpa. Fran was born in Menominee Michigan August 19, 1942 and moved to heaven on September 3, 2021, where he joins his parents, John and Eleanor Gough.

Raised as a proud Yooper, he joined the Air Force after high school and served as a weather tech, giving him reliable cloud reading skills that came in handy when he moved to the Pacific Northwest after the service. He met the love of his life, Judith there in 1969. They wed in 1970 and proceeded to raise their four smart, funny, perfect daughters. Erin Wright (Butch), Darby Gough, Mary Gough, Joanna Sauter (Michael). He leaves behind his 12 grandchildren and 2 Great Grandchildren as well as his siblings, Robert Gough (Livia), Carol Johnson and Kathy Bartlett (Terry).

He was a girl dad through and through. Always on duty, making sure that the neighbor boys weren’t too rough on the girls, or some driver was driving too fast down our street. Every sporting event found him either high up in the stands, or on the sidelines, sometimes gently suggesting, “Open your good eye Ref!” Family comes first was ingrained in him.

Fran was a telephone company guy, in his plaid shirt and company issued safety glasses. He worked for MA BELL, “The Telephone Company” for over 30 years. He added 360 Networks to his resume after retiring and even a stint as a bus driver for the Seattle School district. He was always on time by being early and that work ethic carried over at home when he would declare, “The bus is leaving” to call everyone to the car.

A quiet giver, Fran volunteered at a men’s homeless shelter St. Martin De Porres and the Aids Hospice that was close to the families heart, Bailey Boushay House. He had a lot of respect for the people that he met there. His heart was soft and there are rain barrels in a village in Uganda because of Fran and kids there getting an education because of his giving soul.

Once retired, Fran and Judith pursued their love of adventure and travel. They camped and traveled to all fifty states, and many National Parks in their RV. Always up for a long cruise, they did a 60 day cruise around South America. Their travel friends provided more opportunities to see Australia and New Zealand as well as China and Southeast Asia.

Fran was diagnosed with Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer in late June. True to his giving nature, he signed up to be in a clinical trial to help others with this disease. Despite treatment, his health declined rapidly. He passed at home, surrounded by family and will be forever missed.

His funeral Mass will be at 12:10 p.m. October 5th at St. Leo’s 710 South 13th Street Tacoma WA 98405. In lieu of flowers please consider donations to Bailey Boushay House 2720 E Madison St Seattle WA 98112 or St. Martin De Porres Shelter 1561 Alaskan Way S Seattle WA 98134.