Frances Marie Garrett

Frances Marie Garrett passed away at 8 PM, Tuesday, January 28th at her home in Highland Park, Texas. She was surrounded by loved ones who had gathered to be with and comfort her in her last days. Frances went peacefully in her sleep, for which we are all thankful. Frances was preceded in death by her loving husband, John E. Garrett, who passed away in June of 2011. Frances Garrett (née Bates), was born on December 11th, 1927 near Sachse, Texas, in the "little red house" on the George Eastes farm. In 1950 she was working as a secretary for Braniff Airlines when she met John Garrett, a petroleum engineer for Atlantic Refining Company. They were married the next year at The Little Chapel in the Woods in Denton, Texas on June 9th, 1951. Soon thereafter came children: Patrick, in 1954, and Kevin, in 1956. Frances, although a stay-at-home mom, was very busy with various activities, including the White Rock Garden Club. Frances showed great flair and taste in interior decorating, garden design, and flower arrangement. She had been attending Texas State College for Women when she married, and once the children had moved out and were in college themselves, Frances went back to school (now named Texas Woman's University) and was awarded her degree in Interior Design in 1976. Husband John, besides being a good provider was a skilled architect. He designed the houses and Frances decorated them. Their team efforts created three new custom-built homes and one renovated home -- all the rightful envy of their friends and neighbors. Their final collaboration, on Shenandoah in Highland Park -- a warm and beautiful house and home -- is the physical manifestation of Frances and John's personalities and their love for each other. Frances and John travelled extensively to Europe and enjoyed tours provided through Southern Methodist University. They particularly loved Southern California and spent their summers and winters at their townhome overlooking the ocean in Corona del Mar. They had joyful times and cultivated many life-long friends in California. Frances was a very talented painter and was an award-winning watercolorist and member of the Southwest Watercolor Society. In her later years Frances joined the Women's Council of the Dallas Arboretum and helped support the construction of the Rory Meyers Children's Adventure Garden. Frances loved nothing more than visiting the Arboretum and showing it off to visitors from out-of-town. Frances is survived by her sons, Patrick and Kevin -- their children; Barrie Lamberton, Caitlin Taylor, Tyler Garrett, and Karina Garrett. Also by her brothers; James Clifford Bates of Georgia, and Alvin Ray Bates of Austin, Texas. A funeral service will be held at 2:00pm, Saturday, February 1, 2014 at Sparkman/Hillcrest Northwest Highway Chapel. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Parkinson Voice Project.