I have some material on Frank to add here.
Scranton Times, July 2017
Francis J. Shanley
July 2, 2017
Francis J. Shanley of Houston, Texas, and formerly of Olyphant, died Sunday, July 2, at Memorial Herman Hospital, Houston.
Born in Olyphant, son of the late Francis and Gertrude Kelly Shanley, he was a 1958 graduate of St. Patrick's High School, Olyphant. He served with the Air Force and was a self-employed entrepreneur his entire life.
Surviving are two brothers, James Shanley and his wife, Diane Shanley, Dickson City; and Joseph Shanley, Olyphant; two sisters, Jeanne Van Nort, Olyphant; and Mary Boretsky, Dickson City; nieces and nephews.
He was also preceded in death by a brother, William Shanley; and a sister, Ann Shanley.
A memorial Mass will be offered Friday at 9:30 a.m. in St. Patrick's Church, Olyphant.
At the memorial Mass, Frank's sister Mary Boretsky read the eulogy, which is slightly edited here:
Big Uncle Frank. That's what we all called him. He was always larger than life. Not only in his physical size but in his dynamic personality. He was so much fun to be around. He seemed to know something about everything. He had such a quick wit and could make you laugh for hours. When he would come home from Texas everyone was happy to gather to be with him.
He was very intelligent and was successful at just about everything he ever tried to do. When he was young he was a very good basketball player, and something of a pool shark. He always told me that he made all his spending money playing pool. He was inclined to always find the mischief in every situation. He was part of a Dynamic Duo with his good friend John Kilker. He could always find someone to share his adventures.
He also had a serious side. He and his friend, Joe Nixon, served 6:30 Mass every morning Monday through Friday for the 4 years he was in high school. He spent 4 years in the Air Force. That included a 1 year tour at King Salmon, Alaska. He played basketball with the base's team because they got to fly all around the area and it was a good diversion on a base where you could never even go outside.
He worked in business and lived in Philadelphia and Syracuse. When he got a chance to move to Texas he was very happy to do so. He spent most of his life there and considered it home. He went on to be successful in business and to eventually run his own company.
When he started his business he bought a house to live in and to run the business from. He had always had a Doberman Pinscher and he bought a Miniature Dachshund (Fritz). He was a cute little dog who literally never left his side. I asked him why he would buy a little dog like that and he said, very matter of factly, that is was the size of the doggy door in the house. He was nothing but practical.
He was the third Frank Shanley. He used to tell me that he probably would not live to be 52. And if he did he would be the first Frank Shanley who ever did.
He loved cars and was drawn to convertibles. Mostly he would have a Corvette. Somehow that suited him fine. He loved children and they loved him.
I feel like this is biographical. So I want to say that he was our brother and we all loved him very much. He was the kind of person we will not forget.
My sister Jeanne found a nice piece I would like to read:
'We are the rememberers, the people left behind to keep the one who's gone from us alive in heart and mind-the people left to cherish and preserve a legacy.'
Yes, we are the rememberers, and we will always be. As long as we live, we will share who you were.
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At the wake, there were several photo boards with photos of Frank:
