- Date Of Birth: October 14, 1923
- Date Of Death: June 24, 2015
- State: Arizona
Frances Choate Carlson, a long-time resident of Scottsdale, passed away on June 24, 2015. She was born October 14, 1923, in Tallahassee, Florida to parents John and Hallie Choate, and grew up in the south. Her father, a banker, passed away early in her life, and despite difficulties during the Depression, she and her siblings attended college and became professionals. She graduated from Florida State University and married her wartime sweetheart and lifelong partner Duane Carlson in 1946, after he returned from extended duty overseas. Frances successfully combined the roles of wife, mother, and professional. She raised two sons, sometimes alone for periods when her husband was away on business, helped her husband through law school, completed a Master’s degree in English and Linguistics from Whitworth University, taught English at Kinman Business College, and continued learning throughout her life. After her husband retired, they moved to Arizona and enjoyed many years of travelling. Frances became active in the local historical societies, published numerous magazine articles, and worked as a historical researcher, reading every edition of The Arizona Republican published in the nineteenth century. She went on to write and publish a book about the history of Cave Creek and Carefree, which is still used in the training of docents at the Cave Creek Museum. Frances was preceded in death by her parents, brothers Jack and Charles, sister Caroline, and beloved husband of 69 years, Duane D. Carlson. She is survived by son Rodney Carlson of Phoenix; son and daughter-in-law Richard Carlson and Sheila Spotswood of Dallas Texas; sister-in-law Joan Choate of Milton Florida; nieces Hollis Choate of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Lisa Freeman of Melbourne, Florida, and Catherine Brooks of Milton, Florida; and nephews John Choate and Steven Choate, also of Florida.
