Frances Franklin, 91, passed away on May 12, 2023, in College Station, Texas. Funeral services for Martha will be held at 2:00PM on Thursday, May 18 at Heartland Funeral Home in Early. Visitation will be held prior to services starting at noon.
She was born on August 14, 1931, in Cross Plains, Texas, to Russell and Evelyn Dennis. Frances graduated from Brownwood High School in 1948 and went on to receive her degree in education from Howard Payne University in 1955.
Frances taught elementary school for 25 years and retired in 1991. She loved teaching fourth and sixth graders. Frances was also a talented musician and played the piano and organ in churches in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. She last played the piano for 10 years at Elm Grove Baptist Church in Belton, Texas, where her brother-in-law, Dale Gore, was the pastor. She played the piano and her sister LaVerne played the organ. For the first time ever they were playing together in a church for services. That was a dream of hers.
Frances began each day with her daily devotional from one of her Max Lucado’s books and her Bible. Her faith and daily conversation with God was an important part of her life. She was a wonderful seamstress and made school clothes for her girls every summer with her mother. She also made wedding dresses for both of her daughters. Frances loved cruising the oceans and traveled to destinations such as the Bahamas, Grand Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Cancun, St. Thomas, and Alaska. She enjoyed watching her children and grandchildren participate in various activities and sporting events. Her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy. She cherished the times she got to spend with them. Frances was an avid collector of teddy bears and had over 300 bears in her collection.
Frances is survived by her daughters, Maricia Magee of College Station, Texas, Susan and Danny Hendrix of Aubrey, Texas, and her son Russell and Lexi Bissett of Pflugerville, Texas. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Christie Hendrix, David and Gloria Hendrix, Mathew Hendrix, Hannah Hendrix, Heather Magee, Summer Magee Smith and Thomas Smith, Caleb Bissett, Blake and Sylvia Bissett, Brooke Bissett, Sebastian and Ashlyn Meredith, Elizabeth and Randy Forrest, and Wendall Meredith, as well as 21 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-granddaughter.
She has been blessed with numerous nieces, nephews and cousins as well as a host of friends.
Frances is preceded in death by her husbands, Joe Bissett and Jewel Franklin, her brothers-in-law, Dale Gore and Evans Bissett, her uncle and aunt, Clifford and Happy Nelson, and Horace and Cheryl Head and her parents, Dr. Russell and Evelyn Dennis.
A special thank you to Allumine Health Hospice Services for their professionalism, kindness and care provided. We will be forever grateful to Stephanie, Brenda, Roshanda, Lashonda and Rosie. Because of you, this journey was less difficult.
Online condolences, memories and tributes can be made to the family at www.heartlandfuneralhome.net.
