Frances Marie Klein

Frances (Fran) Marie McCarthy Klein was born in Dallas, Texas to Michael Earl McCarthy, Jr. and Nancy Maude Paschall McCarthy. She was the fifth of six children. Fran attended Ursuline Academy’s grammar school, St. Joseph’s Academy and St. Edward's Academy, where she graduated in 1949. While in high school, Fran participated in numerous activities, including being the Feature Editor of the yearbook and a member of the Sodalists of Our Lady, the Choral Club, and the Sports Club. She was voted Most Popular Senior and Football Royalty’s Maid of Honor. After graduation, she worked at St. Edward's where she met her future husband, Robert (Bob) Klein. Bob found a small child who went missing under her care and returned the child to her. They met again later at a St. Edward's Cathedral Club dance and became inseparable. Bob attended school in Chicago for a brief period of time, but when their relationship became serious, he returned to Dallas and proposed to Fran at Samuel Park. They married August 25, 1951, at Sacred Heart Cathedral (Our Lady of Guadalupe) in Dallas, Texas.

Fran's career included a position at Bell Telephone, but her true calling was to care for and teach children. She provided in-home day care for many years before taking a position at KinderCare Dallas. While at KinderCare, she studied at Eastfield College, earning her Associate Degree in Childhood Education. She served as an Assistant Director and then Director of KinderCare Dallas until she retired. She also volunteered in many capacities at her children’s school, including Den Mother for Cub Scouts.

True to her namesake, St. Francis of Assisi, Fran loved nature, especially birds, dogs, and cats, seeing God through each of them. She loved working on crossword puzzles and reading. Some of her favorite pastimes were daily telephone conversations, commenting on the previous night’s Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson (her senior class biography showed her hobby as “Talking”), and exchanging books and magazines with her cousin, Eugenia (Gena) Paschall. She perfected a frozen margarita recipe at Gena’s house on Saturday night visits. This recipe has been passed on to many and is still being enjoyed regularly by family and friends. Fran enjoyed music. She watched American Bandstand and Sump’n Else daily. Her love of music was passed on to her children. She will always be lovingly remembered for her quick wit and infectious laugh.

Fran was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 66 years, Bob; her parents; brother: Edward McCarthy; sisters: Juanita George, Annette Hoes, and Pat Ryan; and son-in-law: Andy Oberlander.

She is survived by her children: Mindy Klein Grazulis (Gerry), Chris Klein (Connie), and Lauri Klein Oberlander; grandchildren: Drew Klein (Mary), Derek Klein, Meredith Oberlander Cluff (Taylor), and Audrey Klein; great grandchildren: Samantha Klein and Mattie Klein; sister: Nancy Crispin; and numerous nieces and nephews.

We wish to thank the staff at Appletree Court for all they have done for Fran over the past three years. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her name to the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org).