Frances Lucia Cortner

Frances Lucia Cortner the daughter of Frank Lee and Mabel Clare (Leib) Weston, was born February 3, 1919, in Audubon, Iowa and died December 12, 2021, at the Friendship Home in Audubon at the age of 102 years, 10 months, and 9 days.

Frances was baptized as an infant and confirmed in 1934 at the Viola Methodist Church. The family moved to South Dakota in 1926 and Frances attended the local schools. In 1934 the family returned to Iowa and she graduated from the Viola Center High School with the Class of 1936. Frances then helped at home.

On September 1, 1938, she was united in marriage to Walter Snyder. They were blessed with two sons, Kenneth and Ronald. They operated a farm west of Audubon where they grew row crops and raised livestock including milk cows. Frances always had a large vegetable garden and enjoyed canning the extra produce. She also raised chickens collecting the eggs and selling the meat. Frances also raised a niece and nephew Roy and Patricia Andersen. Walter died in 1964. Later in 1967, she married James Cortner. They retired from farming and they enjoyed wintering in Arizona for over 17 years. James died in October of 1997.

Frances was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Audubon, Iowa. She loved gardening and growing vegetables and flowers. Frances enjoyed all the years of getting together with the family for Sunday dinners. She enjoyed being with her family and helping take care of the grandchildren.

Preceding her in death were her husbands, Walter Snyder and James Cortner; her son, Ronald Snyder; her daughter-in law, Peggy Snyder; her granddaughter, Kristie Mills; her parents; and several siblings.

Survivors include her son, Kenneth E. and wife Marcia Snyder of Audubon, Iowa; her grandchildren: Kennett and husband Bruce Palmer of Ankeny, Iowa, Kennell Gust and significant other Matt Denny of Audubon, Iowa, Scott and wife Amy Andersen of North Liberty, Iowa, Sandy and husband Brad Begen of Vinton, Iowa, Jennifer and husband Xavier Reynoso of Jupiter, Florida, and Daniel and wife Deanna Campbell of Colorado; her grandson-in-law, Matt Mills of Atlantic, Iowa; her daughter-in heart, Patricia Andersen of Florida; her son-in heart, Roy and wife Lovie Andersen of North Liberty, Iowa; her step-children: Max and wife Shirley Cortner of St. Paul, Minnesota, Jolene and husband Lyle Schwery of St. Charles, Iowa, and Dixie Hansen of Cedar Rapids, Iowa; her step grandchildren: Emily Cortner of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota, Allan and wife Emily Schmitt of Gilbertville, Iowa, Robert Bond of Des Moines, Iowa, Chris Hansen and Aaron Hansen both of Independence, Iowa, and Ethan and wife Cherokee Hansen of Hiawatha, Iowa; numerous great grandchildren and numerous great great grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Graveside services will be conducted by her nephew Don Weston on Sunday December 19, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. at the Maple Grove Cemetery in Audubon, Iowa. Interment will be in the Maple Grove Cemetery. The honorary casket bearers will be Branden Nelsen, Whitney Nelsen, Jesse Hanke, and Trace Malloy. The casket bearers will be: Robert Malloy, Chayse Gust, Jake Best, Jeremy Warren, Brice Warren, Mathew Mills. There will be viewing at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa Saturday December 18, 2021, from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The family prefers memorials be directed to the Friendship Home in Audubon, Iowa.