Frances O'Farrell Eley

With sad hearts we say a loving goodbye to Frances. A creative, artistic and fabulous life was lived by this extraordinary woman. With dreams and hopes far bigger than the tiny town called St. Jo, Texas, where she was born in 1923, Frances could not wait to escape and explore the world. It wasn’t until years later she would lovingly recall tender memories of her Grandma Vada and Grandpa Willie - Willie’s barbershop on the town square where every afternoon he would play his fiddle, with Frances ‘running a mile a minute’ after school to sit on grandpas lap, soaking in the music and magic. Grandma Vada nourished a warm fire and kettle to welcome the dreamers home – St. Jo was not as small as the young girl had imagined. As the years moved forward, dreams of becoming a stage actress were met with success – both in New York at the Cherry Lane Theatre and later in San Francisco, performing as the leading lady at the Bush Street Theatre. Both residences were under the guidance of Robert Eley, a graduate of the Royal Shakespeare Company in England, under Sir Lawrence Olivier and in collaborations with Sir John Gielgud. Robert had won international accolades as a premier Director, and with Frances as his leading lady, success continued to grow. Together they opened the first Equity Theater in the Valley of Los Angeles, and for a short period of time, Frances worked in television and film. Not only did Frances realize her dream of becoming an accomplished actress, she also fell in love with and married Robert Eley.

As the years flew by, Frances transitioned her talent from stage and screen to the world of fine arts and quickly became an accomplished and quite renowned portrait painter. Having studied at the Kansas City Art Institute, as well as with some of the finest portrait artists in the country, within a few short years of embracing her new creative outlet, Frances became the commissioned portrait artist for the annual San Fernando Valley Man of the Year award during the 1960’s. In these early years of her artistic career, she was commissioned to paint portraits of then-Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty, Salvation Army Founder General William Booth, Dorill Wright as then-Mayor of Port Hueneme and Delmar Oviatt, founder of San Fernando Valley State College (CSUN’s predecessor). By the 1980’s Frances’ talents and renown increased and she was commissioned to paint the portraits of dignitaries and leaders across the world. These included; First Lady Betty Ford for the White House, in honor of her recognition as ‘Woman of the Year’; Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II which hangs in Her Majesties Private Collection; Nelle Reagan, mother of Ronald Reagan, at the request of President Reagan in honor of her volunteerism at Olive View Hospital; and Mrs. Norman Vincent Peale in honor of her receipt of the National Woman of the Year award. Additionally, Frances’ suites of paintings of American Indians, Classical Nudes and studies from the Middle East have been featured in gallery shows across the United States. Her creativity and vision continue to touch individuals across the globe in both the portraits and paintings she has so beautifully executed.

An avid adventuress – anyone who has known Frances can vouch for her bold spirit and sense of intrigue for the exotic, she fully realized her dream of travel. Having circled the globe numerous times, a highlight of these adventures was her early 1960’s pilgrimage through the Middle East, accompanied only by her mother Glenna, whose sense of adventure and boldness of spirit was equally admirable – and sometimes astounding.

Frances was also a passionate advocate for the mentally ill. She served on the Ventura County Mental Health Board throughout the 1980’s and led legislative efforts on the counties behalf. She was a member of NAMI and would share her passionate and heart wrenching story and experience of the enormous impact mental illness has on an entire family. Frances lost her only son, Michael to the devastation of mental illness in 2000.

Along the way Frances married Jack O’Farrell and had one son, Michael John O’Farrell, who was always a sparkle in her eye; in the 1950’s Frances married Robert Eley, with whom she had her daughter, Susan Eley Kelly. Frances was also blessed with two beautiful grandchildren – Sean Michael and Kaitlyn Sue Kelly. She also would not leave this earthly existence until she was able to meet her beautiful first great-grandchild, Lennon Grace.

The large, fabulous and fulfilling life story of Frances cannot be complete without sharing the final love of her life – her rock, her calm, her undying supportive partner, Jack Darnielle. Jack has been by Frances’ side since the day they met – he photographing her paintings for an upcoming show – she immediately falling head over heels in love (we think Jack did too). He has been the final blessing to a woman who has led a blessed life.