Bonnielyn Waters Francis was born on October 30, 1929 in Big Spring, Texas to Haywood T. and Bess Abercrombie Waters. The family moved first to Longview, Texas and then, in about 1937, to Corpus Christi, Texas, where Mr. Waters was an independent grocer. "Bonnie," as she was called by everyone but her parents, who stuck intrepidly with Bonnielyn, graduated from high school in Corpus in 1946 and later that year matriculated at Abilene Christian College, where she was a cheerleader, member of the Ko-Jo-Kai women's social club, and campus beauty. She loved Abilene Christian for the remainder of her life and while there made friends that she likewise kept and cherished for life. She graduated with a degree in elementary education in 1950. She also met Bobby J. Francis, an event not without future significance to this story. After her graduation, she moved to Midland, Texas to teach elementary school, while Bobby moved to Kermit, Texas to take a job with the El Paso Natural Gas Company. That kind of thing just couldn't continue, and the couple married on August 24, 1951, amid general and particular rejoicing. It would continue for the next 66 years. In March 1953, Blair G. Francis was born to them. In 1958, the "Company," as El Paso Natural was called in the family, transferred them to its home operations office in El Paso, where Bonnie taught fourth grade for the El Paso independent School District. Bob and Bonnie were members first of the Montana Street Church of Christ and then charter members of the Eastwood Church of Christ. They both retired in 1984. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Denison, Texas to be nearer to Bobby's oldest brother, Virgil, and his wife Carol, who were living in Marietta, Oklahoma, and to Blair, who by then was living and working in Dallas. In Denison, they were members of the Morton Street Church of Christ. They lived in pleasant and active retirement in Denison for about 35 years-Bobby playing golf and fishing Lake Texoma nearly dry with his church friend Shorty Sampson, and Bonnie serving for a time with the "Pink Ladies," a service organization helping Texoma Medical Center. This idyllic life continued until Bobby passed away on January 21, 2018. In 2020, Bonnie moved to Dallas to live with their son, Blair, where she attended Northway Church with him. She lived in his home until she entered hospice care on April 8, 2024 and then went to be forever with the Lord on May 3, 2024. Bonnie's first allegiance throughout her life was to Christ and to the word of God. Bonnie is survived by Blair and by numerous loving nieces and nephews. She loved God first. She also loved his people, and they loved her back. She sought first the kingdom and His righteousness, and felt that the Lord's promise, "and all these things shall be added unto you," had held true for her. Towards the end, during her hospice stay, she was heard to intone, "Count Your Many Blessings," from the hymn known by those words. Bonnie Francis, like the apostle Paul, fought the good fight, finished the course, and kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for her, as there was for Paul, a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to her at that day, and not to her only but unto all them also that love his appearing. 2 Tim. 4:7-8.
Arrangements are being handled by Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home. Services will be held on Wednesday, May 8, at 10:00 a.m. at the Preston Road Church of Christ, 6409 Preston Road, Dallas, Texas 75205, with Shea Sumlin, the lead teaching elder at Northway Church, officiating. Burial will follow at Cedarlawn Cemetery in Sherman, Texas, next to Bobby.
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