In memory of

Frances Ann Cameron

Aug 9, 1939
Nov 25, 2018

Obituary

Frances Ann (McCamish) Cameron passed away peacefully at her home on November 25th 2018 with her loving husband by her side. She was 79 years old.

Fran was born on August 9, 1939 in La Habra, California; the daughter of the late Marylou Layne and Warren McCamish. Fran had many nicknames (all good) including Frances Ann, Frannie, Frankie and Frantastic. She grew up in Pomona, California, and went to Pomona High School (PHS). She was a majorette at PHS and later entered and won the Miss Flame beauty contest. She married her high school sweetheart Gordon Orsborn and they later moved to Los Gatos, California where she raised her two children. In the 1980’s, Fran moved to Portland Oregon with her second husband.

Years later, she met and married her soul mate and the love of her life, Gene Cameron. They both enjoyed wine and owned a wine distribution operation for a number of years. They were actively involved in the community, including the Silverton Flywheel Car Club, and went to many classic car shows. Most of all, they enjoyed being together, taking care of each other, and shared a boundless amount of love, friendship and respect for each other.

It’s easy to say that Fran was loved by everyone she met and family meant the world to her. She was the type of person you knew would always be there, no matter what, and was there to prop you up whenever you needed it. She was also a prankster and enjoyed a good joke – if an opportunity presented itself she loved to scare her kids, sometimes pretending to be a burglar, and would later laugh it off with them. She was known to do crazy things, like climbing into the window of an old abandoned farm house reported to be haunted to find out for herself if it was true. She was also into rocking lots of different colors in her hair, including purple. Only Frantastic could pull that look off.

Fran took life as it came many times saying “well, so be it” – she lived and died on her terms and wasn’t going to be swayed to do otherwise. Above all of her shenanigans and fun, Fran was known for her genuine kindness, warmth and love. She was an exceptional wife, mother, sister, auntie, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend to all that had the good fortune to be in this lady’s life.

She was the beloved grandmother of Brandon Orsborn, William, Cait and Ashley Haley, Alejandra Aguilar and Karina Virrueta and later had the good fortune to meet and become the center of her great-grandchildren’s lives. She spoiled her grandkids rotten, even to the extent that when their parents arrived at Fran’s house the kids would scatter and hide so they could stay with Grammy – their love for her is endless. It goes without saying that she was very proud of all her kids, grand, great, or otherwise, and loved texting, calling and hearing about their day-to-day lives.
Fran left shoes that can never be filled, but the memories she gave us will forever fill our hearts.

She was preceded in death by her mother Marylou Layne and her father Warren McCamish. She is survived by her husband Albert Eugene “Gene” Cameron, sister Linda Beardsworth, brother Ron McCamish, two children Courtney Orsborn and Tiffany Haley, son-in-law Josh Haley and daughter-in-law Lilia Orsborn, two step-children Gennan and Kevin, six grandchildren Brandon, William, Caitlin, Ashley, Alejandra and Karina and four great-grandchildren Everly, Miles, Sebastian and Camilla.

Fran’s memorial will be held at the Terrace Lake Clubhouse ‎2120 Robins Lane SE, Salem, OR, on Thursday, December 13, 2018 at 11am.

Service Information

Memorial Service
Thursday, December 13, 2018 at 11am
Terrace Lake Clubhouse
‎2120 Robins Lane SE, Salem, OR, on

Messages of Sympathy

  1. Brent and Denise Baker says:

    We are heartbroken to hear of Frans’ passing... we pray that Gene and his family find comfort in that the fact that she made a lasting impact on those who had the pleasure of getting to know her. She will be remembered and her friendship will live forever in our hearts...

  2. Gene says:

    I'm so sorry Geno. We've been thru a lot of things in the last 65 some years and this is one of the worst. You have a wonderful family to help you thru this bad time. I love you like a Brother Geno Call me when you feel like it.

  3. Valerie and Jamie says:

    We also were blessed to be a lucky neighbor to Fran and Gene, enjoying many evenings of wine and awesome conversations and company. Fran, you were one of a kind and we will forever cherish the friendship

  4. Penny Wolley-Conant says:

    So very sorry to hear this news. May she Rest in peace and may you feel her love as you continue your life path, Gene.

  5. Ed Halligan says:

    She had a wonderful life with you Gene . God bless her and you.

  6. Tammy Goff says:

    So sorry for your loss! I could tell Fran was a special lady the few times I was around her.

  7. Matt & Val says:

    We loved Fran.
    She was an Awesome person.

  8. Matt & Val says:

    We loved Fran. She was an Awesome person.

  9. Kathleen and Jeff DeGarmo says:

    We were privileged to live next door to Fran and Gene in Silverton. We enjoyed numerous dinners together with good food and wine, and especially GREAT conversation! We would laugh until we cried as Fran loved a good joke. We count Fran as one of our favorite people we have ever met. We are heart broken and will miss her terribly. Thank God we have such great memories! We love you❤️

  10. Staff of Johnson Funeral Home says:

    Thank you for trusting Johnson Funeral Home with Fran's arrangement. It has been a pleasure to serve such wonderful people.

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