Frances Tapp

The heavens will be dimmer tonight. One of the brightest stars has faded. On Saturday, February

24, 2018, Frances Eloise Billings Tapp passed away after a long battle with COPD.

A musical theatre actress turned stay-at-home mom, Fran never turned down a good song, a good chocolate chip cookie, or a good laugh.

Fran starred in local musical theater performing for Albuquerque Little Theater and Albuquerque Civic Light Opera. She performed the title roles in "Mame" and "Peter Pan" and, her all time favorite: Fanny Bryce in "Funny Girl". Thousands packed Popejoy anytime her name was on the marquee.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Otho and Eloise Billings. She is survived by her loving husband of 40 years, Charles M. Tapp, Ph.D.; her son, Dave Tapp and wife Courtnee; her daughter, Barbara Tapp and spouse, James Harvey; her stepdaughter, Roxane Gelband and husband, Butch; and her grandchildren, Robert, Corbin, and Lilly.

She was interred at Sunset Memorial Park without a service, according to her wishes. As Fran would say: "Don’t send flowers—they make me sneeze." In lieu of flowers, Fran would ask you to support her children’s charity of choice in her name: Make-A-Wish Foundation of Southern Nevada (snv.wish.org).

Like Nick Arnstein in Funny Girl says to Fanny Brice, "So long, Funny Girl."