Frances L. Tatum

Frances L. Tatum, 88, of West Friendship, Maryland, died peacefully at home on Thursday July 10, 2025. 

She was born in Baltimore, Maryland on October 22,1936 to Christian and Anna Lehneis and was the oldest of 3 children. Frances attended high school and upon graduation, married Raymond Tatum, her beloved husband of 69 years. She worked as an executive secretary, then decided to focus her life in service to God and her family. Frances was a woman of incredible faith, courage, and charity. She was very involved with her church through teaching and administration. She was also a member of the Red Hat Society. When at home, she enjoyed sewing and loved raising and caring for the family goats, pigs, rabbits, horses, dogs, and cats. She was a caring wife, a loving mother, a loyal friend and a fierce defender of all Gods people and creatures. She will be dearly missed by all.

Frances was preceded in death by her father Christian Lehneis Jr., her mother Anna Lehneis, her brother Christian Lehneis III, and her daughter Sherrie Tokosch. She is survived by her husband Raymond Tatum Sr., her sister Ruth (Ed) Kaszuba, her daughter Stacey (Ken) Varney, her sons Raymond (Kimberly) Tatum Jr. and Stuart (Deborah) Tatum, her grandchildren Lindsey (Eric) Kohlhofer, Ross Tokosch, Brooke (Jeb) Wishart, Blaire Varney, Brynne Varney, Bryce Varney, Blake Varney, Jake (Katie) Tatum, Nathan Tatum, Kayla Tatum, Mason Tatum, and her great grandchildren Zane, Miria, and Everly Wishart.

A viewing will be held at Harry H. Witzke’s funeral home, 4112 Old Columbia Pike, Ellicott City, MD 21043 on Friday July 18, 2025. from 10am to 12:00pm; where a service will begin at 12:00pm with the interment service following at Meadowridge Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to The Alzheimer’s Association, donorservices.alz.org

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