Obituary for
Frances Sheehy
COCONUT CREEK, FL: Frances Diane Sheehy formerly of Manly, IA passed away in her home in Coconut Creek, Florida surrounded by family on January 26, 2017 after an extended battle with cancer. The daughter of Moses Arthur and Adeline (Huizel) McCoid, she was born on January 1, 1947 in Mason City, Iowa. Following graduation from Newman Catholic High in 1965, Fran married Michael J. Sheehy December 22, 1966 in Mason City, IA.
In 1981, she returned to school and earned degrees in Business Administration and Accounting in 1984. She entered law school immediately thereafter and earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Arizona Law School in 1987 as the editor of Law Review. Her journey to tax law was by no means direct. The detours and delays on the way included being a wife and mother, a Scoutmaster and the founder and head coach of a swim team in Rio Rico, AZ despite the fact that she could barely swim. Following graduation from law school, she started work with the IRS Office of Chief Counsel in Miami, FL and became a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney litigating tax and bankruptcy cases. She left the government for private practice in 1992; first as a partner with wonderful tax lawyers and then struck out on her own. She was heavily involved in the community as the President of the Coconut Creek Chamber of Commerce in 2004 and the Florida Bar as one of the founding members of the Government Lawyers Section and then as a member of the Tax Section including a term as the Chair in 2009.
She enjoyed playing golf and was an ardent fan and supporter of her two sons, the United States Navy and the U.S. Naval Academy. Fran had a formidable intellect and a genuine love of people that enabled her to make lasting friendships wherever she went. She will be dearly missed by all who loved her. Blessed with many gifts of mind and person, Fran was even more notable for her generosity and irrepressible “dry” sense of humor. Most of all, Fran was an amazing friend and colleague, and a loving mother who never failed to tell everyone she knew how proud she was of her sons, their families, and the friends she’s met along the way.
She is survived by her sons, Michael and Peter; their wives Mary Jeanne and Sarah; her grandchildren Tiffanie, Melissa, Kaitlyn, Michael, Matthew, Mya and Zoe; her great-grandson Keanu; her brothers Art and Jim and her sisters Anne and Pat.
A memorial service will be held on Friday, February 3, 2017 at 11:30 a.m., Mary Help of Christians Catholic Church (5980 N. University Dr, Parkland, FL 33067) followed by a reception at her home, 6401 Mallards Ln, Coconut Creek, FL. There will be a second memorial service on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 at 10:30 a.m., Epiphany Parish in Mason City, IA followed by interment at Memorial Park Cemetery in Clear Lake, IA. She wanted her memorials to be celebrations of life with no ‘sad faces,’ and no regrets. We ask that, in lieu of flowers, you share a hug and a memory with those that have been touched by our mother’s legacy.
Please share your memories of Frances or express condolences to her family through this online book of memories.