Carla Ruthanne "Fran" Guess (Storer), age 78, passed away on Friday, August 7, 2026.

Born June 13, 1948, Fran was the second of five children of Carl Ross Storer, Jr. and Alta Mae Storer (Kinkade). Growing up, the family moved often, residing at times in Germany, Maine, and Kansas. The family settled in Arroyo Grande, CA when her dad retired from the United States Air Force.

Fran was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Carl Storer III, sister Lucile Smith, husbands, James Moore and Larry Guess, and great-grandson, Clayton Schnase.

She is survived by her children: Victoria Holmes (Hugh) of Coeur d'Alene, ID, Jarrod Chojnacky of Trout Creek, MT, and Stefan Jones of Kellogg, ID; her sisters: Candy Mersai of Grover Beach, CA, and Barbara Peck (Glenn) of St. Louis, MO.

Fran was blessed with nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. All were boys, except for three granddaughters. We often joked about having enough boys for our own football team!

Fran moved to northwestern Montana in the mid-1980s and found her forever home. She loved her trees, four seasons, and the wildlife that visited her. She had an independent spirit and did things her way. She felt a great connection to the wilderness that surrounded her home in Thompson Falls.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Disabled American Veterans (DAV). A private memorial was held in late August, and Fran's ashes were scattered in the mountains of northwestern Montana—a place she loved.