Obituary of Mary Frances Campbell

Mary Frances "Mefran" Campbell died peacefully surrounded by family at her home on Lookout Mountain, Tennessee, early Monday morning, January 1, 2024. Mefran was born in Worcester, MA on April 25, 1931 and grew up in Ipswich, Ma. She loved to talk about her high school years in St. Anne’s convent (bet you didn’t know Mefran was in a convent!). After graduating from “the convent” in 1949 she attended Tufts University where she was swept off her feet by the true love of her life Charles Howell Campbell whom she married in 1951. They had five children over the next six years. Tragically, Howell died in 1960, and Mefran dedicated herself to raising her children. She was an extraordinary mother and worked as a kindergarten teacher at Lookout Mountain Elementary and a lifeguard at Fairyland Club. She also participated in various volunteer organizations and smocked dresses for countless friends and family members. 25 years after leaving Tufts, Mefran, determined to get a college degree, entered Georgia College in Milledgeville, Ga. and received her Bachelor of Science degree. Returning to Lookout Mountain in the late 70s, Mefran entered nursing school where, at age 47, she was 21 years older than the class average. She received her RN and graduated with a master's degree in Nursing in 1981 where she was both student body president and class valedictorian. She spent most of her ensuing 30-year nursing career working in the Emergency Room, many of them on the midnight shift and always taking holiday shifts for nurses with young families. She retired, reluctantly, from nursing in 2013 at age 82 and only then because of the advent of EMR (electronic medical records)! In 1984 she married Dick Draudt with whom she spent almost 30 happy years of parties, travel and family reunions before he passed away in 2013. Mefran, who always loved a good party, found plenty of time to spend with her family and many friends, entertain with elaborate dinner parties, travel to all parts of the world, learn mahjong, play hand and foot, and fiercely compete in her beloved bridge games. She was preceded in death by her parents, James Perry and Katharine Kettell Smith, her beloved husband, Howell, her son, Bruce, her sister, Sally, her brother, James, and her later husband, Dick. She is survived by her children, Chuck (Karen), Kathy, Karanne and David; grandchildren, Warthen, Chris, Mary Frances, Katie, Justin, Lauren, David, Corey, Alyson, Sarah, and Gus; and 14 great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Church of the Good Shepherd Flower Guild. There will be a funeral service on Wednesday, Jan. 3, at 10:30 a.m.at the Church of the Good Shepherd on Lookout Mountain, and later that day at 4 p.m. a Celebration of Life at Fairyland Club. PS: Mefran wants the Celebration of Life to be BIG! Arrangements are by Wann Funeral & Cremation Center, at the foot of historic Lookout Mountain, St. Elmo, 423 821-7551. Share your memories at wannfuneralhome.com.