Frances Keffer was born in Des Moines, Iowa and studied with Frank Brangwyn, Alexander Robinson, Ossip Linde at the Pratt Institute. She moved to San Diego around 1920 and taught at an art school for several years before dividing her time between San Diego and Hillsdale, New Jersey until the early 1940’s. She painted still lifes and many views of La Jolla and Torrey Pines coast. She was the sister of artist Florence Hale.