With family all around her, Mildred Cragun Francis Vanderwerff, 87, joined her parents and her son in their place of rest April 27, 2006.

She lived just short of her 88th birthday. She'll be buried that day, May 2.

Mildred was known by most in her later years simply as grandma. Grandma had the pleasure of living out her days at her own home with her husband, Kenneth Vanderwerff, at her side, offering diligent care as she fought back the effects of two strokes.

She was born May 2, 1918 in Pleasant View to Levi Ephriam Cragun, Sr. and Maud Mathews Cragun. She was born at home on the farm, the fifth child of 12. Mildred attended Weber High School.

Known for her athletic abilities, Mildred was instrumental in starting girls' softball leagues in Weber County. She was the all-state pitcher from 1935 to 1940 and with her team won the Northern Utah Championship.

Following her first marriage to William H. Francis, Mildred lived in a number of areas as she followed his career with the Union Pacific Railroad. Everywhere she lived, she started girls softball programs, including in Alturis, California and Carlin, Nevada. Mildred and William had two children.

Her family will miss grandma's banana nut bread with chocolate frosting and her cakes and pies. She always told us to plant a garden and save for a rainy day.

Besides her husband, surviving are her daughter Bette (Orvid) Jeppson of Tucson, Ariz., two sisters, Ferol (Dee) Hock of Olympia, Washington and Gwenda (Don) Meyer of South Ogden. Grandchildren are Bill (JaNae) Francis of Hooper, Ray (LaVonne) Francis of Salt Lake City, Brad (Holley) Jeppson of Riverton, Bryce (Kristen) Jeppson of Tucson, Ariz., Tere (Darren) Gerber of West Jordan, and Marianne Jeppson Madsen of South Jordan.

Mildred was preceded in death by her son William Lee Francis, Sr., her parents, six brothers and three sisters.

The family would like to express appreciation to the nurses at Rocky Mountain Hospice, Teresa and Tracy, for their caring touch as grandma prepared for her journey home.