Frances "Louise" Dean , age 93 and a lifelong resident of the Elwood community, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 1, 2023 at Elwood Health & Living care center in Elwood after a long, full life.  She was born July 24, 1930 in Elwood, the daughter of Jacob J. and Stella A. (Overpeck) Bell.  Louise was a 1948 graduate of Wendell L. Willkie High School.  She married Donald C. Dean on June 26, 1949, and they shared nearly 69 years of marriage together before his passing in 2018.  Louise retired from J. Lewis Small Co. in Elwood after 20 years of service.  She was also a devoted farmwife for her husband and family on their grain and hog farm in Madison and Tipton counties.  The Dean family farm was designated as a Hoosier Homestead by the State of Indiana.  During her retirement years, Louise also enjoyed working at the House of Glass with Joe Rice where she loved interacting with customers in the store.

Louise was known for always having a smile on her face and was friendly to everyone she met.  Louise and Don were members of the First Presbyterian Church in Elwood.  They enjoyed traveling through the years and visited nearly all of the U.S. states on their trips.  She was a member of the Women of Elwood Euchre Club and enjoyed cards and fellowship with her friends.  Louise was also formerly active in YMCA fitness classes for many years.  She will be dearly missed by everyone who loved her.  Louise's family is comforted knowing she is reunited with her husband and son in Heaven.

Louise's family includes two daughters, Janet Blankenship of Elwood and Marsha Ballard of Elwood; 5 grandchildren, Brian Blankenship, Brent (wife Sally) Blankenship, Alisha (husband Jason) Armes, Krista (husband Todd) Armes, and Jason (Caylee) Ballard; 11 great-grandchildren, Courtney (husband JD) Sallee, Andrew, Paighton, Lainey, Eli, Evan, Katey, Kelsey, Abigail, Noah, and Beckett; great-great-grandson, Stryker; and several nieces and nephews.  Louise was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Donald Dean; son, David Dean; great-grandson, Brody Armes; 3 siblings, Dale (Mary Ruth) Bell, Charles Bell, and Rosemary (George) Conway; and son-in-law, Larry Blankenship.

A funeral service celebrating Louise's life will be conducted at 2:00 pm on Thursday, September 7, 2023 at Copher-Fesler-May Funeral Home in Elwood with Pastor Phil Votaw officiating.  Burial will follow in the Elwood City Cemetery.  Visitation for family and friends will be held from 11 am to 2 pm on Thursday prior to the funeral at the funeral home.  Memorial contributions are suggested to the Morrisett Center Food Pantry through the funeral home.  Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.copherfeslermay.com.