Frances Parham Kaylor

Frances was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend. She was born on Sunday, April 6, 1930 to the late Alphaeus Lewis and Frances Avonia Parham and grew up on her family’s home place in Roxboro, North Carolina. After graduating high school in Allensville, North Carolina, she spent several years working for the Glamour Shop. It was during her time managing the Hickory store that she met her future husband, Ronald Gene Kaylor of Conover; he walked into a coffee shop “and there she was.” Following his very intent and focused courtship, they married in January 1956. During their 68 years together they raised two children and welcomed three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. She has been a major force in their lives.

After earning her Associates Degree in Accounting, Frances went on to serve as bookkeeper at Northwestern Bank in Hickory before being stolen away by the discerning GW DeHart of DeHart Motor Lines. She was a long-time member of Concordia Lutheran Church in Conover, and a member of the Hickory Tavern National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. After retirement, she worked as a substitute teacher for local schools.

In addition to her parents, Frances was preceded in death by her brother A.L. Parham, sisters Virginia Whitaker and Ruth Gravitt, and son-in-law Jonathan Jones.

Those left to cherish Frances’ memory are her husband Ronald, daughter Deborah Jones, grandson Adam (Alice) Jones, granddaughter Rev. Anne Jones Martin (Max), great-grandsons Jonathan Martin and Christian Martin; son Ronald Jr. (Susan) Kaylor, grandson Jacob (Zoe) Kaylor, great-grandson John Kaylor; brother Samuel Parham, sister Callie Watson, sister-in-law Miriam Stimpson, and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family offers special thanks to two amazing ladies who helped make these last weeks easier for our Frances/Mom/Frannie: Melissa Fisher and Lisa Fleming, Thank you for your loving care.

A funeral service for Frances will be held at 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, December 27, 2024 at Concordia Lutheran Church located at 216 5th Ave SE, Conover, NC 28613 and will be officiated by the Reverend Michael Geml. Her family will receive friends prior to the service, from 1:00-1:45, and she will be laid to rest immediately following the funeral at the Conover City Cemetery located at 602 3rd St SE, Conover, NC 28613.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital at 501 St. Jude Pl, Memphis, TN 38105, or to Concordia Lutheran Church Mission and Ministry at 216 5th Ave SE, Conover, NC 28613.

Condolences may be sent to the Kaylor family at www.drumfh-conover.com.