Frances Ross-Shannon Utley, 86, of Crawfordsville, formerly of Chesterton, died Thursday, April l0, 2008 at St. Clare Medical Center following a brief illness. She was 86.

She was born June 26, 1921 the daughter of former Linden and Chesterton Methodist Church pastor Reverend Robert Ross-Shannon and Mrs. Pearl Ross-Shannon.

She is survived by her son, J. Thomas (Marty) Utley of Linden; granddaughters, Mary Ann Oppy of Crawfordsville, Michelle Westhuis of Lafayette, Sonya and Alexis Kosack of Guam; and great-grandchildren, Makayla, Logan, and Lucas Oppy of Crawfordsville, and Bella Kosack of Guam.

Frances graduated from Lebanon High School.

Utley resided in Crawfordsville since retiring in 1985 from the American Bar Association where she had been employed for over 30 years. Utley authored many books and articles as the Nation’s leading authority on attorney career development.

Utley previously resided in both Chesterton and Chicago. And, for the past 6-1/2 years, Utley was a resident at the Williamsburg Health Care Center.

Utley was an honors graduate of both SW Missouri State (formerly Christian College), and the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. During WWII she wrote for the Methodist Publishing House in Chicago, and later worked for the War effort in the Tacoma, Wash. shipyards.

A private memorial service will be held. Donations may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Indianapolis.

Posted 4/11/2008