A Raleigh native, Frances Summers Nowell was born to Louis Summers and Pearl Broughton Summers. She worked for the North Carolina State Commission for the Blind, First Federal S&L, and the Raleigh News & Observer. She married USAF Col. Robert B. Nowell, also of Raleigh and had two sons.
Fran and Bob were a military family moving from base to base, eventually the Nowell family retired to Garner, N.C.
In addition to being a former military wife and devoted mother, Frances groomed and raised toy poodles. She served as President and Treasurer of the Raleigh Kennel Club with many friends in the dog show circuit. She had many champion dogs over the years and some of her champions were shown at the Westminster Dog Show in New York at Madison Square Garden.
Frances leaves behind sons, Robert B. Nowell, Jr. and wife, Kathi of Apex, N.C. and James Newsom Nowell,II and wife, Sarah Marshall Nowell, granddaughters; Abby and Ashleigh and step-grandchildren; Kelli and Jeff Sharp.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 St. Mary's St., Raleigh. A Graveside Service will be held on Friday, May 4, 2012 at 11 a.m. at Raleigh National Cemetery, 501 Rock Quarry Rd., Raleigh.
The family request that donations be made in her memory to Wake County Animal Shelter.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.brownwynne.com