Obituary of Frances Alguire

Beloved by family and friends all over the world, Frances M. (Werner) Alguire passed away peacefully at age 97, accepting a sudden health decline with grace and the faith that her work on Earth was done. Known for her love of family, genuine caring for others, and belief in women’s leadership abilities, her spirit will continue with all who knew her.

Dr. Alguire served as President/Chairperson of World Methodist Council (1996-2001), becoming the first woman and the first lay person to ever lead the 34,000,000+ members of the worldwide Methodist church. Other life honors and recognitions included receiving a Doctorate of Humane Letters from Adrian College, Adrian, MI and a second Doctorate from Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary, Evanston, IL. Fran treasured the numerous Certificates of Recognition and Honorary Mission Membership pins from Jurisdiction, Conference, District and local United Methodist Women’s groups and was included as one of “350 Women Who Changed The World 1976-1996” in Working Women’s Magazine.

Growing up on a rural Michigan family farm during the Great Depression, Fran learned the lessons of work, responsibility, love of family, Christian faith and service to others. All work was done together, by hand, with shared faith and support. The Methodist church in town (pop. 220) was both a spiritual and community center. Fran’s response to an altar call at age 8 led to her lifelong calling. Her parents provided role models for love of family, spiritual practice, and community service. From this influence, despite the limited opportunities for women at that time, Fran believed that women were equal to men in leadership roles and that love of family, work, humor and a firm belief in God would carry one through all life’s challenges.

Fran joined the U.S. Army Cadet Nurse Corps (1945-1948) to attend the Edward W. Sparrow School of Hospital Nursing in Lansing, Michigan. She became a Registered Nurse, an achievement that brought her lifelong joy. Newly graduated, she proudly worked as the Supervisor of a Surgical Unit. She met her ideal partner, Donald E. Alguire, and they married in 1949. During 62 years together, Don and Fran shared their Christian faith and actively worked as partners, exchanging leadership and support roles as life progressed and circumstances required. Fran was a dedicated mother to her two daughters, Mary and Catherine, and volunteered at school, church, and community organizations, including the Red Cross Blood Mobile Unit, Girl Scouts and political precincts, which she continued while returning to school nursing in the 1960s.

Fran and Don helped found the Chapel Hill United Methodist Church (UMC) in Battle Creek, Michigan (1950s). After moving to Illinois, Fran’s leadership roles grew through church volunteer roles and her Women’s Circle, becoming a Certified Lay Speaker and Mission Interpreter. Through the UMC, Fran consulted on Women and Health Programs, Leadership Development, Community Volunteers, Evangelism and Program Planning. She embraced more significant church leadership roles at the state, and then the regional, national, and international levels. From 1971 to 1996 she served in leadership roles with the UMC Commission on General Conference, the United Methodist Women’s Division, UMC Northern Illinois Conference, United Methodist Women Jurisdictions, United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, UMC West Michigan Conference, and the World Methodist Council.

Highlights of Dr. Alguire’s time as President/Chairperson of World Methodist Council (WMC) included meeting with the international dignitaries and local church communities, meeting with the leaders of World Religions in Rome at the Millennium, and awarding five World Methodist Peace Awards. Fran delighted in meeting local people internationally, as well as ambassadors and dignitaries, including Pope John Paul II, Dr. Kofi Annan, the King, Queen and Royal Princess of Tonga, Grandmothers of Plaza de Mayo of Argentina, Dr. Nelson Mandela, Dr. Desmond Tutu, and President Jimmy Carter. She chaired multiple international World Methodist Officers’ meetings and World Methodist Executive Committee meetings, attended World Methodist Council meetings, and gave over 50 speaking presentations at numerous U.S. and international locations including Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Tonga, West Samoa, Indonesia, South Korea, and the Philippines. Concurrently, she spoke at local churches, led legislative groups, and served on the Boards of the North Western Missionary Society, the Epworth Old Rectory, and the Directors of Adrian College.

At the end of her tenure as President/Chair of WMC, Dr. Alguire initiated both a $20M WMC Endowment Fund to support future lay people serving as President/Chair of the WMC as well as a WMC leadership award “The Honorable Order of Jerusalem”. She continued to speak in person and on TV/radio, publish articles, support women and laity in leadership roles at her local church, serve as Advisor to the World Council of Churches, and publish a book: God Trusted a Woman: Leadership Lessons from the Life of Dr. Frances M. Alguire, First Laywoman to Lead the World Methodist Council.

Throughout the years, Fran kept a daily journal, hosted family and friends, gardened, antiqued, and made handmade needlecraft items and renowned baked goods.  When she moved to The Cedars of Chapel Hill in North Carolina in 2006, she joined the local Altrusa Club and volunteered at the DuBose Healthcare Facility. Later, as a resident of DuBose, Fran continued to nurse and nurture leadership in others by giving daily greetings, thanks, and blessings to all. In 2023, she initiated two Named Funds at the University of North Carolina (UNC) to support leadership in the fields of nursing and geriatric medicine.

Fran is preceded in death by her husband Donald E. Alguire, sisters Kathryn Werner Zurakowski (Bill Zurakowski), Pauline Werner Aven (Carl Aven), brother Forrest E. Werner (Lee Pamment) and grandson Jackson A. Vickery.  Fran is survived by her daughters Mary F. Papish and Catherine A. Alguire, grandchildren Anna Friedman, Joe Friedman and Erin Vickery, two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews in Canada, Michigan, New York, and Colorado.

A memorial service will be held at the University United Methodist Church at 150 E. Franklin St, Chapel Hill, NC on Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 at 2:00pm https://universityumc.church/  A second memorial reception will be held for acquaintances at DuBose Health Center/The Cedars at 101 Green Cedar Lane, Chapel Hill, NC on Dec. 3 at 2:00pm. Cards can be sent to the family at 106 Cedar Ridge Way, Durham, NC 27705. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the following:

The Golden Rule Education Fund for Geriatric Medicine Fellows #346285

Online at https://give.unc.edu/gift/algu or by mail to the UNC Health Foundation, 123 West Franklin Street, Suite 510, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. Contact: Leslie Nelson-Bernier at lhnelson@email.unc.edu

The Golden Rule Nursing Scholarship Fund #422677

Online at go.unc.edu/goldenrule or by mail to the UNC School of Nursing, Attn: UNC Gifts Processing, PO Box 309, Chapel Hill, NC 27514. Contact: Katella Silva at katella@unc.edu or phone 916-247-6665

World Methodist Council Endowment Fund for Youth Leadership https://worldmethodistcouncil.org/contact-us-2/ or phone 828-456-9432

University United Methodist Church - Contact: Betty Peterson, bpeterson@universityumc.church or phone 919-929-7191

Arrangements are in the care of Walker's Funeral Homes 11680 15-501 Chapel Hill, NC 27517 919.942.3861. Online condolences may be shared at www.walkersfuneralservice.com.