Frances Earle Harn

Frances Earle Harn (nee Hill) died on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at the age of 82. She passed away at her home in Euless, Texas at 9PM after a prayer with her family. Fast moving cancer robbed her of more years on Earth, but she lived her life with vibrancy, love and an attitude of exploration. Frances is survived by her loving children, son Mikal Harn and his wife Lori, son Roger Harn and his partner Gayle Wiggin and daughter April Godwin and her husband Shannon; her cherished grandchildren Jessica Harn, Austin Harn and Abigail Harn; and much-loved great-grandchildren, Peyton Long, Patrik Long, Jaxstyn Harn; and supportive brothers Orvel F. Hill, Jr and wife Joanne and David Hill and his wife Alice.
Frances was born in Abilene, Texas at St. Ann Hospital on August 26, 1941, to Orvel Francis Hill and Edna Earle Hill (nee Maples). Her parents were rural educators who also farmed and ranched. As the first born of three with two younger brothers, she set the pace as the Valedictorian of McCaulley High School in her class of eleven students in 1959. The same year she graduated from high school she was crowned Miss Midwest Electric beauty pageant winner, showed a steer at the state FFA and starred on the school basketball and tennis teams.
Frances graduated from North Texas State University in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Home Economics. Upon graduation she went to work for the Texas Agricultural Extension Service as a Home Demonstration Agent working with 4H clubs in Denton County. Frances then became a homemaker in 1966 and started raising her family. She was an expert seamstress who sewed clothing for her children, sometimes to their chagrin. She was quite a home cook, and her casseroles would make your mouth water. Above all she was a caregiver to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Frances rooted for the Aggies and was known for the spread she would bring to feed Roger and Mikal’s fish buddies after football games. They remember her bringing a home cooked Thanksgiving meal to share as a family before the home game against the tsips.
Frances became an expert photographer and loved taking pictures of nature, especially blue bonnets in the hill country with an old, barbed wire fence for perspective. She sold some of her photographs and others were treasured family gifts. She even photographed weddings for friends and family. Her scrapbooking skills were amazing and her creative skills with country home decorating were legendary. Her children would joke about a dining room wall covered in distressed barnwood and decorated with collections of rug beaters and farm implements. While some people might have a home office, Fran’s office was her craft room. Materials such as bolts of cloth, colorful paper, and a myriad of scrapbooks for birthdays, holidays, trips and adventures of all sorts, were stacked floor to ceiling. Special family treasures include her scrapbooks of graduations, college years, travels, and birthdays.
She started traveling later in life and was always ready for a new adventure. Whether traveling on Route 66, to New York City or on a river cruise through Europe, she was always ready to see the world and loved discovering new cultures. In her later years when she needed a traveling companion, it wasn’t uncommon for her to book a European river cruise and then tell her family after the fact so they had to scramble and decide who would accompany her. She was member #481 of the Sisters on the Fly, an outdoor women’s adventure group, who gathered for outdoor adventures with style, color and fashion and she prized her custom decorated pull behind trailer for the gatherings. Fran treasured spending time with her friends and loved to say, “Let’s go on an adventure”. Her sewing and bible study group came to be known as the Fabulous Four and included friends Robin Dewhurst, Kathy Hurt and Danita Fuller. They were by her side until the end and were at her house praying with her the day before she passed.
As a strong Christian, her love of Jesus Christ permeated her life. During her time as a church member, bible study group leader and a life group member, she knew this world was simply the preamble to eternal life in heaven next to her Lord and Savior. Her children fondly remember their Mom sending them special bible verses, teaching them to pray and practicing bible verse memorization.
Most of all she was a caregiver to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Frances was a strong, independent woman from the plains of West Texas who embodied the cowgirl spirit and brought joy to those around her.