WILMINGTON — Frances Marie Ganey, lovingly known to all as “Shorty,” sewed her last stitch on March 27, 2025, in Wilmington, NC. Born on January 5, 1947, in Whiteville, NC, Shorty graced this world with her presence for 78 remarkable years.
A seamstress extraordinaire, Shorty spent many years threading needles and stitching up a storm at Dorothy’s Original Ruffles. Her nimble fingers brought countless creations to life, but it was her sharp wit and even sharper sense of humor that truly made her a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.
Shorty had a zest for life that was larger than any pattern she ever cut. Whether she was cruising the high seas, filling the pews on Sunday, or harmonizing along with the National Quartet Convention, she lived with a spirit as vibrant as her beloved fabric collection. Her greatest joy came from being surrounded by her family—her daughters, Jill Hunter and fiancé Samuel Sealey, and Deborah Jennings; her sisters Jean Mintz and husband Robert;, Shannon Ragan; brother Alan Watts and his wife Daphne; her grandchildren, Jackie “Cornbread” Ferrell and Darius Jennings; and her sweet great-granddaughter, Everleigh; along with many nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Agnes Watts, her husbands, Jackie Justice and Grant Ganey, and her sisters, Faye Chasteen, Janice Raynor, and Cathy Tompkins, Shorty leaves behind a legacy stitched together with love, laughter, and a little bit of sass.
Though she’s now attending the ultimate heavenly choir, her infectious smile and warm heart will be dearly missed by all who knew her. In the coming days, a Celebration of Life will be announced where stories, laughter, and perhaps a few tears can be shared in her memory. She loved her Lord and her church family tremendously.
In lieu of flowers, Shorty would have appreciated donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital—because even in passing, she couldn’t resist giving back.
Rest easy, Shorty. Your thread may have run out, but the tapestry of your life will keep us warm for generations to come.
