This past February, Frances Lueth Jaksich celebrated her 100th birthday with a big party at the Elks Lodge, complete with singing and ukulele performances. The party theme was “You Are My Sunshine” which was quite appropriate as Frances “loves everyone, loves to have fun, and has an uplifting spirit.”
Frances is an original member of the YO Mamas knitting group, whose core mission is to provide clothing and gifts for local charities, including Shriners Hospital for Children and Maryhouse, a shelter for homeless women and children. She estimates she’s made several thousand tote bags.
She was born in 1919, the youngest of nine children, and grew up on a rural Sutter County ranch. France’s father, Henry, built the family home in the town of Sutter, just below the Sutter Buttes. He bought an Aladdin Home through Sears Roebuck. It was shipped by train to Marysville and delivered to their lot. Because he wasn’t much of a carpenter, it took him several years to assemble it. The house is still standing today.
When not helping the family farm their almond trees, she immersed herself in school sports – mostly playing catcher on baseball teams. “Once a bat hit me, but I must be okay after all these years, because I still have a brain to do things.” She recalls getting a special license at the age of 13 so she could drive her mother into town for medical appointments. While working at the Capital National Bank, she caught the eye of a handsome dairy farmer, Jerry Jaksich. They got married in Reno and were together for 61 years. They raised two wonderful children, Barbara and John, in the Pocket neighborhood.
Frances says she has no secret to living this long, but says, “I believe in building friendships and treating people fairly. Every part of my life has been great.” Her son John adds, “My mother has such a positive outlook on life. I’m sure she’ll live beyond 100 years.” Frances was eager to celebrate her milestone birthday with a big party…and now she asks, when is the next party?
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