Frances "Fran" Mills Dooley

Frances “Fran” Mills Dooley lived a remarkable 100 years, but those who loved her will remember her life less by the number of years she lived and more by what she filled them with: family, laughter, friendship, adventure, a warm and welcoming home, and a sweet smile that those who knew her loved and could always count on.

Fran was born to Bessie (Champion) Weis and Francis L. Weis on December 14, 1925, in Kittanning, Pennsylvania. Over the course of a century, she witnessed a world of change, but throughout her life, the things that mattered most to Fran remained remarkably constant—her family, her faith, her friendships, her home, and caring for the people she loved.

Fran grew up in Kittanning, where she graduated from Kittanning High School in 1945. Over the years, she worked as an Avon representative, as a sales clerk at Nancy Lee’s Smart Shop in downtown Noblesville, and for Sears & Roebuck. She later worked as a bookkeeper for Mills Construction, where she eventually retired.

Fran was a devoted mother whose children remember not only the big moments, but the seemingly ordinary ones that became treasured memories. There were fresh treats waiting when the kids came home from school, lessons learned alongside her in the kitchen, and a mother who noticed when one of her children needed something and quietly made it right. Fran took an active role in her children’s world, including being a den mother in scouting.

Of course, Fran had another side, too. Her children remember a road trip from Pennsylvania to Anderson, IN when Fran, behind the wheel of the family Plymouth, looked back at the kids in the backseat and asked if they wanted to see her crank it up to 100 miles per hour. They apparently had a mother who could keep them on their toes.

Fran created the kind of home her family remembers in snapshots: summers around the swimming pool, Millie the monkey hanging from the rafter with grandkids full of belly laughs, Christmases made warm and cozy with red twinkling lights, and a house where grandchildren knew they were always welcome. She had a way of making ordinary moments feel special. Even sleepy grandchildren arriving at her home could expect a whispered welcome from Grandma.

She loved to entertain and enjoyed dancing, sewing, knitting, crafting and reading—especially her beloved author, Danielle Steel. She enjoyed traveling and playing bridge, and for many years was a member of Noblesville First United Methodist Church, where she sang in the church choir.

Above all, Fran loved her family.

She was the mother of David Mills (Jennifer), Thomas “Tom” Mills (Sally), Joe Mills (Trish Nelson), and Paula Jones (Brad).

Her grandchildren are Lawrie Mick (Paul), Elizabeth Mills, Jennifer Smith (Randy), Susan Wallace (Brian), Michael Mills (Laura), Ross Mills (Amber), Amanda Monroe (Matthew), Matthew Jones (Becky), and Jason Jones (Johanna).

Her family continued to grow with her great-grandchildren: Ralph and Emma Mick; Jack Smith; Madelyn and William Wallace; Ambri and Ardella Mills; Amelia and Violet Jones; and Bodhi Jones.

For Fran, family was more than names on a family tree. Her children remember seeing the affection between their mother and father, and generations that followed grew up knowing the warmth and security of Grandma's home. She was there for the milestones, but perhaps even more importantly, she was there for all the little moments in between.

Fran was preceded in death by her parents, Bessie (Champion) Weis and Francis L. Weis; her husbands, Ardell A. Mills and Roger Dooley; her sister, Mary Isabell “Sis” Weis; and her brother, Paul A. Weis.

One hundred years leaves behind an extraordinary number of stories. Some are big, some are funny, and some are as simple as cracking an egg, coming home to a treat, being tucked into a warm house at Christmas, or seeing a familiar smile.

And perhaps that is one of Fran's greatest legacies.

Visitation will be from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, with services at 1:00 pm, on Monday, September 21, 2026 at Randall & Roberts Funeral Home, 1150 Logan Street, in Noblesville. Burial will follow at Crownland Cemetery in Noblesville.

Condolences: www.randallroberts.com