Obituary of Frances B. Monsees

Monsees, Frances ?Carter? Bush, 81, of St. Petersburg, died March 16, 2001 at St. Anthony?s Hospital after an extended bout with terminal dementia. Born in Parkersburg, WV, she moved with her family to St. Petersburg at an early age and was a member of one of the city?s pioneer families of the 1920?s. Her father, Gilbert Bush, was the chief fundraiser and general secretary for the historic YMCA building now branded a historic landmark. He was instrumental in the early development of the Masonic Temple and Home, was an early founder of the Boy Scouts Pack 273 located at the Wesleyan Methodist Church on 3rd Street and 37th Avenue North and was involved in the early fundraising efforts for Morton F. Plant Hospital now known as Morton Plant/Mease. Her mother, Esther Bush, achieved the highest rank possible for the Order of the Eastern Stars OES. She was also a successful hotel manager which included stints with the Edgewater Inn now a park just south of North Shore pool, the Landmark Inn now home to 10 Beach Drive and her very own Esther Bush Hotel, formerly located between 28th and 29th Avenue North on Fourth Street in St. Petersburg. In addition, the Bush family was one of the first families to recognize the value and purchase property directly on the shores of Lake Tarpon. A gifted student, Frances Carter graduated from St. Petersburg High School at the age of 15 and was one of the youngest students to attend Radcliffe College now merged with Harvard University, where she received an undergraduate degree in social work. Her young age did not deter her from her next step, which was to apply and be accepted to the prestigious Masters Social Work Program at the University of Chicago where she graduated at the age of 21. She applied her skills to the Pinellas County Schools Social Worker Program from 1963 to 1976, but more importantly she devoted her efforts to the burgeoning youth sports programs of the sixties. Because her oldest son, Alex, lived in Bangkok, she devoted her efforts to the development of her son, Gilbert. As a swimmer who once crossed the Charleston WV in record female time, she was an avid athlete who would often be seen hitting ground balls, pitching batting practice and throwing a football to her son. She was a regular fan at ?Police Pistol Club? games and Northeast Jr. Viking games. It was obvious that her son?s gratitude and improvement was as important to her as the many friends and relationships she developed as a member and solid participant of the Pinellas County Schools Social Work Program. She is survived by her sons, Alex Mavro of Bangkok, Thailand, and Gilbert Mavro of St. Petersburg, and her granddaughters, Sirilak Mavro, ?O?, of Bangkok, Thailand and Alyssa Mavro of St. Petersburg. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home, Ninth Street Chapel.