She was born February 3, 1942 in Belleville, IL to Arthur Willis and Omega Modine (Houseworth) Kern.  Frances worked as a ward clerk at Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon, IL and was a faithful member of the New Hope Baptist Church in Ina, IL.

Frances is survived by her mother Modine Kern of Mt. Vernon, IL; one son Melvin (Ashley) Scott III of Dahlgren, IL; four daughters: Ashley (Nathan) Hofer of Wayne City, IL, Brandance (Ronald) Coffey of New Baden, IL, Sherry (Charles) Miller of Lawton, OK and Carmen (Patrick) Loper of Bloomington, IN, fifteen grandchildren: Raistlyn and Riley Scott, Lacey (Scott) Roberts, Rachelle, Hannah and Alyssa Jordan (Loki Smith) Loper, Charles David (Tamara) Miller Jr., William (Angie) Miller, Carolyn (Justin) Johnson, Skyler Bittle, Hannah Bancroft, Ethan and Colin Coffey, and Lucas and Andrew Hofer; two brothers: Robert “Butch” (Mary Pearl) Kern of Okeechobee, FL and Jeffrey Kern of Mt. Vernon, IL.  Nine great grandchildren also survive.

She was preceded in death by her father, a stillborn son James Robert Scott, and cousins Janice Threatt and Shirley Payne.

Graveside funeral services will be held Friday, November 20, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery near Frisco, IL with Pastor Craig Smith officiating.  Visitation will be Friday, November 20, from 11:00 a.m. until the time of service at the Gholson Funeral Home in Dahlgren.  Per CDC guidelines masks are required and social distancing guidelines will be observed. Memorial donations may be made to Angels Cove Maternity and Adoptive Care in Mt. Vernon, IL or to the World Bird Sanctuary in St. Louis. MO and will be accepted at the Gholson Funeral Home in Dahlgren, IL.

Online condolences may be shared at www.gholsonfuneralhome.com.

The Gholson Funeral Home of Dahlgren is entrusted with the arrangements.