Marilyn Francis Conlan

Oct 27, 2023

Marilyn Francis "Fran" (Spraggins) Conlan passed away on Oct. 27, 2023, at the age of 84, in Anchorage, Alaska, surrounded by loving family. Born on June 30, 1939, in Rockford, Ill., to the late Lloyd F. and Bernice E. Spraggins, Fran lived in Illinois for most of her early life and graduated from Harlem High School in 1958. Fran enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1960, and served first at Gunter AFB, Ala., and then at Keesler AFB, Miss., where she met and married her husband of 58 years, Herbert R. Conlan, on Sept. 3, 1961. Fran separated from the Air Force in 1962 as an Airman Second Class. She then accompanied Herb at military tours at Chateauroux Air Station, France; Athens Air Base, Greece; Scott AFB, Ill.; the USAF Academy, Colo.; and Elmendorf AFB, Alaska. While living in Colorado, Fran graduated from El Paso Community College with an associate degree in dental assisting. She went on to spend 20 years working as a dental assistant at the Alaska Native Hospital in Anchorage, retiring in 1995. Fran continued to work part-time, handling medical billing for the Alaska Native Hospital's dental clinic. She is preceded by her husband, Herb; son, David Conlan; her parents; sister, Margaret; and brother, Dean. She is survived by daughter-in-law, Sherlyn Conlan and her three children, Michael, Christina and Rachael of Oklahoma; son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Rebecca Conlan and their son Cameron of Virginia; son, Stephan Conlan and his daughters, Stephanie and Jamie of Alaska; brother, Emory "Jake" Spraggins of Missouri; sister, Julia and husband Don of Arizona; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; and one great-grandson.

Funeral services will be held at Holy Transfiguration Greek Orthodox Church, 2800 O'Malley Road, Anchorage, AK 99507, on Nov. 21, 2023, at 10 a.m. A burial service will be held in spring 2024 at Fort Richardson National Cemetery.