Obituary of Opal Francis

Services for Opal Francis, 86, Overton, are scheduled for 10:00 am, Monday, October 11, at the First United Methodist Church, Overton with the Reverends Ricky Ricks, Reverend Doctor Ron Klingsick and Reverend Fred Parsons officiating. Burial will be in the Overton City Cemetery under the direction of Cottle-Pearson Funeral Home, Overton. Mrs. Francis died Friday, October 8, 2010, in a Tyler Hospice facility. She was born June 14, 1924, in Rolla, Missouri to the late Orrie P. Wells and Opal Hope Hollett Wells. She grew up in New Hampshire and Indiana. She had been a resident of Overton since 1982. Mrs. Francis received her bachelors degree from Texas Christian University and her master's degree from Texas Wesleyan University. She also did post graduate work at the University of North Texas. She lived in Forth Worth for 34 years. She was a teacher in the Fort Worth Independent School District for 25 years, retiring in 1979. Mrs. Francis was one of the state's first special education teachers and helped begin the Head Start program in Fort Worth. She was a member of the National Classroom Teachers Association and the National Organization for teachers. After moving to Overton, she began a mentoring program in the Overton Schools. Mrs. Francis was a Master Gardner and was a member of the National Begonia Society. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Overton where she also served in the United Methodist Women's group. She married Martin Francis in Fort Worth, in 1952. He preceded her in death in 1992. She was also preceded in death by a grandson, Phillip Florea. Survivors include a son, Robbin Francis, Granbury; two daughters and a son-in-law, Lauren Florea, Granbury and Holly and Greg Wall, Overton; a sister Edna Strickler, Huntington Beach, California; grandchildren and their spouses, Shelly Florea, Zachary Florea, Tiffanie and Cisco Matherne, Morgan and Daniel Ortega, Justin Self, and Aubrey  and Trey White; great-grandchildren, Aiden Matherne, Jarrett Florea and Nicky Florea; niece, Jean Strickler; nephew, Lawrence Strickler; a special daughter, Debra Caldwell; and other family and friends. Pallbearers will be Reverend Fred Parsons, Doug Osburn, Robert Wall, Mike Allen, Will Roberson, and Ralph Ward, Jr. Memorials, if desired, may be made to the First United Methodist Church, Overton. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 pm until 7:00 pm, Sunday, October 10.