Frances Cansler

To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die.

Obituary

We are very saddened to share the passing of Frances Valliant Cansler.

Frances was born in Vienna, Austria on July 25, 1949 and moved to the United States with her family at the age of six. She grew up outside Portland, Oregon where she thrived in school and enjoyed spending the weekends water skiing with her brothers. ((More details))

She met her husband, Richard, in a high school Algebra class, where she caught his attention as the only student laughing at their math teacher’s corny jokes. She went on to pursue a career in education, with an undergraduate degree from Portland State and a Masters from Seattle Pacific University (or degrees from PSU and SPU), and spent 30 years as an elementary school teacher.

As an educator, Frances filled students’ days with reading, songs, and creative hands-on projects that allowed children to see learning as a joyful, lifelong pursuit. She noticed and celebrated the unique contributions of every student, and helped them discover and see the best in themselves and each other.

After retiring as a full-time teacher in the Longview School District, she continued to deeply impact the lives of students by serving as an expert educator and trainer to school districts across Washington State.

In everything she did, Frances brought a love and respect for people and the natural world. Her classroom and home were a menagerie, from birds and turtles, to rescued cats, to the service dogs that she trained with Canine Companions for Independence.

Always up for an adventure, she spent her summers camping and exploring the natural wonders of the world with her family, and traveling, including numerous international trips to see their three exchange students that had became part their extended family. Add a line about grandkids?

A passionate storyteller, Frances was also active in community theater, taking part in more than a dozen plays and musicals, including leading roles at MainStage Theater, Columbia Theater, and Stageworks Northwest (need to fact check). She also enjoyed telling tall tales to children across the Pacific Northwest as part of the Storytellers Network.

Frances passed away peacefully on Friday September 18, 2026, after a long battle with dementia surrounded by ((family/her daughters)).

She leaves behind her husband of 56 years, Richard Cansler; daughters Taryn Hansen and her husband Mark, Jodi Cansler and her husband Ian Gleason, Elyse Rowe and her husband Kenny; her grandchildren Ariana, Rylan, Wren, Emmeline, Genevieve, and Eloise; and two brothers, Joe Thomson and George Thompson. ((And friends?)).

Frances will be remembered for her curiosity and innate love of learning; her songs, stories, dancing, and laughter; and most importantly, for how she made people feel. She treated each day as a gift and made sure the people around her knew they were one, too.



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Student had chances to tackle creative, challenging work that showed kids what they were possible of and built the mindset and skills to thrive, from building life-scale models of the San Francisco bridge in tesoften in teams, to help encourage and provide chances for each student to contribute and help each other.

with each other, to build respect for each others’ differences

carry what they learned out into the world/their communities to create a positive ripple effect on others.

Engaged learning

Lifelong skills

The ripple of her love of learning and reading to thousands of kids and colleagues.

Natural wonders of the world

She always brought a

Needs edited). She will be remembered for her curiosity and innate love of learning; her songs, stories, dancing and laughter; and most important, for how she made people feel.

And deeply affecting the lives of thousands / hubdreds of students

OR: ability to see the wonder and the that gift that’ll each day brought…

OR reminding others that each day was a gift
// to appreciate each day as a gift

Or labor of love to help each other

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Richard Cansler

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Full Name

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Richard Cansler

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Frances Cansler

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