Leslie Anne (Conyers) Franson, 78, of Morristown, Tennessee, died Sunday, April 21, 2024.
A private graveside service will be held at White Pine Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest beside her husband. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date when Leslie's out-of-town family can gather together with friends.
Arrangements are with Alder Funeral Home in Morristown, Tennessee.
She was born Dec. 29, 1945 in Wayne, to Herbert Leslie Conyers and Frances Lucille (Harmeier) Conyers. Leslie grew up on farms a few miles northwest of Wayne. She went to District 61 country school from kindergarten to fourth grade and St. Mary's Catholic School in Wayne for grades 5-8. She graduated from Wayne High School in 1963. She attended St. Joseph Mercy School of Nursing in Sioux City, Iowa, graduating in 1966 as a Registered Nurse.
In 1966 Leslie moved to Kansas City, Missouri to begin her nursing career at Menorah Medical Center. She worked in various hospitals until 1974 when she accepted a position as supervisor of a newly opened oncology unit at Trinity Lutheran Hospital. In 1974 she met Paul Franson, who was employed at Trinity as an operating engineer. They were married Jan. 24, 1976.
Leslie continued to work at Trinity Hospital, earned a Bachelors Degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and taught nursing courses through the Kansas City Board of Education. Leslie and Paul then relocated to Minnesota, beginning an odyssey of living in approximately 10 different states over the next 30 years. In 2010 they moved to Tennessee, their final residence being in Morristown, Tennessee, since 2014.
Leslie was a huge dog lover, beginning with the dogs on the family farms during her childhood. Dogs continued to be a big part of her life, always having at least one in her home. She was also a book lover, often reading most of the books available in the libraries of the small towns in which she and Paul lived. Her own collection of books in her home was extensive, resulting in many heavy moving boxes during their frequent moves.
Leslie and Paul were members for many years of the First Methodist Church in White Pine, Tennessee, and enjoyed the fellowship of friends in the congregation.
She is survived by her sister, Jean (Conyers) Pullan, cousins Bruce Conyers (Denice), Nick Conyers (Marge), Dianne Conyers Grob (Vern), Mary Klinghagen, a niece and a nephew, and many other cousins.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her infant brother, and her beloved husband, Paul.
