In Memory of Rev. Frances “Fran” Ann Dew (May 12, 1941 – June 1, 2024)
We offer our condolences to the family and colleagues of the , who died on June 1, 2024, at the age of 83.
Fran was born on May 12, 1941, in Detroit, MI to Leola Marie Freeman and Clarence Herbert King. She was the oldest of nine siblings and grew up on the family dairy farm in Superior Township. She attended the Bronson Hospital School of Nursing, MI graduating with her RN degree (1962). Following graduation, Fran worked as a nurse at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, married, and had two children. In 1964, she joined the People’s Church in Kalamazoo, MI, and served on the RE committee as a third-grade teacher. She then received her Bachelor of Science from Western Michigan University (1969) before moving to Yakima, WA in 1970.
Fran served the Unitarian Universalist Church of Yakima, WA as a volunteer DRE, congregational president, membership committee chair, board member, worship committee chair, and stewardship canvas chair. Decades of lay leadership in UU congregations, and deep familiarity with UU polity, made her feel that the UU ministry fitted her way of being in the world. She wanted to blend, contribute, co-create, and serve as a UU minister. Following this call, she received her Master of Divinity from Starr King School for the Ministry, CA in 1999.
Rev. Dew was ordained to the UU ministry in 1999. She served her first interim ministry at the First UU Church of Wichita Kansas, KS (1999-2000). Subsequently, she was an interim minister for the Unitarian Church of the Quad Cities, IA (2000-2002). During her two years at the Quad Cities, she institutionalized the Wednesday night Adult Religious Education Program making it a real strength of church offering. Children and youth religious education flourished under her tutelage; she was a model administrator and a spiritual director. From 2002 to 2003, she served the Greenville UU Fellowship, SC (2002-2003). She helped create a new vision and mission and made significant contributions to organizing social action activities. At the First Unitarian Church of San Jose, CA (2003-2004), Rev. Dew worked closely with the Worship Associates to provide inspiring and meaningful worship services. She created effective Transition Teams that led discussion sessions and prepared congregations for the Search Committee, and the effective ministry of the next settled minister. Thereafter, she served the following congregations: the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Santa Rosa, CA (2004-2006); the First UU Congregation of Ann Arbor, MI (2006-2007); and the UU Fellowship of Midland, MI (2008-2010). In 2010, she retired from her active ministry. She made the choice to be an interim minister to help guide each church she served through an intentional transition.
Rev. Dew was a strong congregational leader who brought a great combination of directness, willingness to address difficult issues, worship, ritual, caring, and energy to her interim ministry. Her sermons were a highlight of her ministry. She headed the Guest at Our Table program at the Yakima Unitarian Universalist Church, an annual intergenerational church project that raised funds for the UUSC human rights service projects. She served the PNWD Leadership School, and the UUSC Board, and was District Coordinator for GA 1995. She also served the Heartland UUMA Chapter as UUMA Chapter Leader (2009-2010).
In community, Fran provided her services as a clinic volunteer for Planned Parenthood, Kalamazoo MI/Yakima, WA; as President of the Washington State League of Women Voters (1981-1983); and as an executive director of the YWCA of Yakima (1983-1985).
She loved hiking, movies, and music. She was passionate about gardening, bird watching, reading, and politics.
Fran’s Starr King classmate and friend UU Rev. Marion Viesel’s tribute to Fran included:
“Fran was an imaginative thinker in all ways;
rolling over a problem, or a dream,
until the way forward became clear.
I remember the day we met at Starr King
for a walk up to the Berkeley Rose Garden.
Fran excitedly shared with me that she’d decided
her career would be intentional Interim ministry.
Our denomination, at the time, mostly used retired ministers as “place
holders” during that important in-between period after a settled
minister leaves a congregation and the next long-term minister arrives.
Fran was well suited for Interim Ministry;
– she knew about organizational change from her activism
with not-for-profits,
and, about Congregational life from her years of volunteer
leadership in churches.
– and she was excited about living in different places.
By spending a year or two, with eight (8) different congregations Fran
helped guide them through an intentional transition.”
Fran is survived by her children: Jennifer Dew de Castro (Jose), and Robert Paul Dew (Alison Wright); her granddaughter: Isadora Dew de Castro; stepdaughters: Patricia Dew Pender, and Roberta Conant (recently deceased) (Peter); sisters: Bonita Roberts (Donald), and Dorothy Weatherbee (Greg); brothers; Ronald King (Diana), Robert King (Helen), Clarence King, Lewis King, Charles King (Karen), William King (Cindy); her step-granddaughters and step-grandsons as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.
A memorial was held on September 28, 2024, at the Dixboro United Methodist Church, 5221 Church Rd, Ann Arbor, MI 48105. Fran’s Starr King classmate and friend Rev. Howard N. Dana conducted the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee.
Notes of condolences may be sent to Jennifer Dew de Castro at dew.jennifer@gmail.com or mailed at 449 Bark Drive, Redwood City, CA 94065.