Frances E "Frankie" Webb (98) of Effingham

Frances E. “Frankie” Webb, 98, of Effingham, IL, passed away on Friday, November 19, 2021 at Evergreen Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Effingham, IL.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at Johnson Funeral Home in Effingham, IL. Burial will be in Watson Cemetery in Watson. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Tuesday prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials may be made to charity of your choice. Online condolences may be expressed by clicking here

Frances E. Webb was born in Springfield, MO, March 25, 1923, daughter of Robert G. and Stella Hutchcraft Johnson, the youngest of 11 children, all who preceded her in death. She is also preceded in death by her first husband, Noble C. Welch, her son, Noble Gail Welch, and her second husband, C. Louis Webb. A beloved grandson, Ryan C. Welch, also preceded her in death in 2009.

Survivors include her two sons, Frederick G. “Rick” Welch of Watson, and Brian H. Welch of St. Louis; step-son, Steve Webb of Heartville; grandchildren, Diona Griffey of Hord, Sarah Ray of Sullivan, Brandon Welch of Watson, and Lance Welch of West Virginia; step-grandchildren, Shannon O’Brien of Mattoon and Frank Browning of Wisconsin; great-grandchildren, Dylan, Jordan, Alyssa, Tyler, Braeden, Abigail, Emily, Cody, Brance, and Ethan; and she was an aunt to numerous nieces and nephews around the country.

She was a long-standing member of the Watson Baptist Church. For many years she was a featured vocalist at weddings, funerals, and school functions, singing at church into her 80’s. She was an avid reader, an expert seamstress, and a great gardener with a true green thumb. She loved animals, especially dogs of all kinds. As the “baby” of 11 children, she was spoiled and adored by many of her brothers and sisters, even though she had nephews and nieces who were only a year and half younger than she was. She graduated from Watson High School in a class of 9 and was the only girl. She also graduated from Effingham High School, but her heart was always with her classmates, friends, and teachers from Watson.

Since 1963, she worked many years, on and off, as a ward clerk at St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital, retiring in 1985.