Barbra Francis

Barbra Francis was born December 17, 1931, in Holly Creek, OK., to Lester and Trula (Stout) Shipman. She passed away at the age of 92 on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 at Paris Regional Medical Center in Paris, TX.

Barbra was a member of the Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Paris, TX. She worked at McCuiston Hospital for several years, taught the LVN class at Paris Junior College for two years, and worked for the Lamar County WIC Program from 1986 until she turned 65. Barbra became a Certified Master Gardener and served with Paris Master Gardener until she was 82.

Barbra loved spending her time out in the country at “The Farm”, where she and her husband, W.C. Francis, Jr., cared for their vegetable garden and fruit trees, fed their fish, and shared their love of nature with family and pets. If she wasn’t gardening, you could often find her bird watching, crocheting, baking and enjoying her sweets, canning her grand prize-winning jellies and jams, and catching lightning bugs and tadpoles with her great-grandchildren.

Barbra was a devoted mother who found fulfilment in caring for, teaching, and finding creative ways of causing mischief with her family and friends. Her sense of humor and stories she would tell brought joy to the room. She will be deeply missed by everyone who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Lester and Trula (Stout) Shipman; former husband, William Fiedler; husband, W.C. Francis Jr.; two sons, Lynn Fiedler, Walter Francis III; son-in-law, Keith Parker; and sisters, Doris Coleman, Lu Ellen Pierce, and infant sister Genieve Shipman.

Barbra leaves behind to cherish her love and memory: Janean Parker of Arthur City, TX; daughter-in-law, Kathy Draper; grandchildren, De Anna Payne, Cari Corley and husband, Matt, Jenna Buzan and husband, Guy; thirteen great-grandchildren; eleven great-great-grandchildren; numerous relatives and friends.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, March 30, 2024 at the Harris Cemetery with Fr. Tyler Been officiating.

Online condolences can be shared with the family at www.whitefamilyfh.com.

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