Frances Francis

Frances (Fran) Lorae Francis, of Woodway, passed away Monday, October 12, 2009, after a long and courageous bout with cancer. Funeral Services will be at 1:00 pm, Thursday, October 15 at Grace Gardens Funeral Home in Woodway. Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 pm, Wednesday, October 14, also at Grace Gardens. Burial will follow at the Patrick Cemetery in China Spring.

Fran was born in on January 25, 1938 in Patrick, Texas to Edna and Huey Thomas. She graduated valedictorian in 1956 from China Springs High School, and received both her B.A. and M.A. degrees from Baylor University. In 1956 she married Carroll Francis, of Waco, with whom she celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2006. Fran was employed as a librarian at Robinson and Midway ISDs, and as a librarian and diagnostician at McGregor ISD. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Hewitt. Fran’s passions in life included her children, grand children, her great grand child, her pets and travel.

Fran is survived by her husband, Carroll; her son Brian, his wife Leslie, and their daughters Ann and Nicole, of Coppell, Texas; her daughter Crystal Francis-Teakell, and great grandchild Tristen Teakell of Waco; her nieces Paula Hughes and Kelley Cowles, and nephew Steve Cowles of Dallas, Texas; and her sister-in-laws Verna Belle Crook of Corsicana, and Margaret McLennan of Waco. She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Huey and Edna Thomas of Patrick, Texas; her sister Barbara Cowles of Dallas, Texas; her brother Garrett Thomas of Waco; and her son Duane Francis of Waco. Pallbearers will be Ken Brown, Monte Grayson, Bobby Haddock, Joe Hazewski, Ken Hughes, Eugene Kent, and Ken Weldon.

Anyone wishing to do so is invited to make a memorial in Fran’s name to the American Cancer Society.

Visitation

Wednesday October 14, 2009 , 5:00 - 7:00 P.M. at Grace Gardens Funeral Home Chapel

Funeral Service

Thursday October 15, 2009 , 1:00 P.M. at Grace Gardens Funeral Home Chapel

Burial to follow at Patrick Cemetery

Interment

Thursday October 15, 2009 , 3:00 PM at Patrick Cemetery