Charlsie Frances"Fannie" Ammons

Charlsie Frances "Fannie" Ammons was known as many things to many people. She was a beloved child, loving sibling, special aunt, and someone very special. To family and friends who knew her best, Charlsie will be remembered as an exceptional person.

Frances was born on September 15, 1945 at home, at 1806 Boyd Street in Knoxville, Tennessee. She was the daughter of Claude Franklin Ammons and Cora Lee Redden Widby Ammons. Frances was born with Down Syndrome. Her speech was impaired, as well as her physical condition. Her greatest accomplishment was living past age 35. Knoxville, Tennessee was her life-long home.

Frances was raised with five siblings, of whom two predeceased her. She had 3 older sisters, Georgia ("Gugie"), Beatrice, and Claudia ("Olly"), a younger sister, Jessie ("Sissie"), and 1 older brother, Edward Lee Roy ("Royal"). "Fannie's" activities usually revolved around home and family. She and her siblings shared many life experiences over the years.

As a young girl, Frances enjoyed playing with her siblings. In her spare time she liked writing in a journal, looking at books, and crocheting. However, to her, the most fun to be had was simply playing and spending time with her family. While growing up, one of her best friends was Kenny McClain. Throughout her life, Frances' primary occupation was loving others unconditionally.

Frances learned a good deal from her younger sister, Jessie. When Jessie was 6 months old, their mother put Jessie and Francis together in the crib. When Jessie started pulling up, so did Frances. When Jessie began to crawl, Frances followed. Jessie began to walk, and so did Frances. They became very attached to each other. When the girls were still in diapers, Mom would wash the floors, and when they were dry, she'd put them on a blanket and drag it around the house to shine the floors. Jessie says this was fun, and they got to do it until they were both about 8 or 10 years old.

Once Jessie started school, she would come home and play school with Frances, teaching her to write and say words. Frances had a language all her own, as she could not speak plain. Jessie usually knew what she wanted and would speak for her if the other person didn't understand Frances.

Mom let 8 year old Jessie and Frances go to a nearby play park. While they were swinging, a bunch of kids came up and started making fun of Frances. Jessie was defending her sister, and was ready to fight this group when some adults came up and made the bullies leave them alone. About then, Mom arrived at the park. The Ammons ladies walked back home together. Jessie and Frances did not return to the park.

Frances attended Elmwood Special Education School. She graduated in 1963. Her favorite class in school was Arts and Crafts.

In the late 70's, Mom and Dad moved to Oklahoma with "Royal." They had to take in their daughter's children (3 girls and a boy). Frances helped her mother take care of these children; Frances and Mom gave up a lot in order to see that these children were taken care of.

After her father died, it was just Mom and Frances. They were great company for each other. Frances learned to eat shrimp. She loved shrimp. When big brother "Royal" died, Mom and Frances moved in with her sister Jessie, and Jessie's husband, Jack, and daughter, Angela. Jessie loved having them with her, but recognized that it was difficult for Jack and Angela.

Frances learned to help Jessie take care of their mother when Mom got sick. Once again, she was learning by watching Jessie. She helped with feeding Mom, changing her clothes, and giving her baths. Jessie says she doesn't think she could have done it if Frances had not been there to help her. When her mother died in 1998, it left Frances with Jack and Jessie, who then let Frances have some more freedom.

Frances loved to travel, and after their mother passed, she and Jessie would take short trips. One year, they took a long road trip, driving from Knoxville down around Louisiana and Mississippi to Texas to their sister and her son, then on to Waco, Texas to see Jack's cousin, then around to Oklahoma to see their sister-in-law, Joann. They loved Joann. Frances spent a lot of time with Joann, who taught her to crochet.

Frances never really learned to write; however, she would sit for hours with her papers, pencils, and books, and write endlessly. She learned to crochet, and would crochet for hours, making objects resembling hats and booties. She was a lover of animals who especially loved cats.

Frances was not blessed with children of her own; instead, she lovingly helped to raise several nieces and nephews.

Frances was not what you'd call a sportswoman. When she was about 5 years old, big brother decided to teach her to swim. Frances was afraid of the water. Lee Roy picked her up and took her to the water, and she ... pooped all over him. Back to Mom she went. Later in life, she learned to enjoy the water. Her neighbors had a pool. She would go over to their pool and walk in a circle, around the edge. She would run, making a whirlpool in the center. The children loved to play in that whirlpool.

Frances spent some of her time and talent volunteering at U. T. Home Health and Hospice, which she did from 1996 through 1998. She never missed a day. She would shred papers and give out numerous hugs every day. If you were feeling down, she was always there to pick you up with her hugs and smiles. She was featured on the News with Margie Ison for being the Number 1 Volunteer at U. T. Home Health and Hospice.

A Church of God member, Frances loved to attend Church and Sunday School. Mrs. Naomi Bass was her Sunday School Teacher and her best friend.

Frances enjoyed traveling and time away on vacations. She loved to travel with Mom, and especially enjoyed trips to Oklahoma to see her brother, "Royal" and his family.

Frances had many health problems. At one point she got to where she could not see. It was discovered that she had cataracts. The cataracts were removed and lenses were implanted, and Frances did well for a long time, thanks to Drs. Rhyne and Ivans. One Sunday, in the midst of enjoying her family and laughing, Frances couldn't catch her breath. She had turned blue by the time the ambulance got there. At the hospital, she was diagnosed with pneumonia, treated, released, and did well for several years. After a time, she started to fall frequently, and to get one respiratory infection after another.

Frances developed some neurological symptoms, and Jessie took her to the hospital, where Jessie tried to get a CT of the brain performed, but she met resistance. She went to a nursing home because she needed rehab. While there, Frances got worse, and Jessie intervened, having her sent to UTMC, where she worked. She got an Emergency Department Doctor to order the head CT, even over the objections of other medical personnel. The scan revealed a bilateral subdural hematoma requiring emergency surgery. The neurosurgeon bored 3 holes to drain off the blood, and she became alert, and began breathing and talking much better. A seizure followed, and she had to be put on a ventilator for a brief time. The ventilator was removed as soon as it could be. Frances returned home under hospice care.

Frances did well at home, walking with help, and doing as much for herself as she could. She still needed assistance, but Jessie was glad to have her sister back home.

Frances developed pneumonia again, and had to be hospitalized. Jack was also sick and in need of surgery, then nursing home rehab. Jessie found herself needing to be in 2 places at once. Frances went into a nursing home again, during this time, and was doing well for a while. Unfortunately, she began to get sick more frequently, so she was removed to the hospital, and later back home. She needed a lot of care, as she could not walk or feed herself any longer. She would watch TV with Jack (she especially liked Mickey Mouse and Cowboys & Indians).

Frances passed away on October 20, 2014 at Tennova North Medical Center in Powell, TN. Frances developed a UTI and became septic. At the same time, the cyst she had at the base of her brain began leaking and compressed her brain tissue; the sepsis made it inoperable. She was miserable, and the doctors suggested the family make her comfortable, and allow her to die in peace. So they did.

She is survived by her sisters, Beatrice Givens of Florida, Claudia Butler of Oklahoma, and Jessie Perry, of Powell, Tennessee. Services were held at Weaver Funeral Home. Frances was laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery, Knoxville, Tennessee, with her mother and father.

Simply stated, Frances was a good and kind person, a beautiful soul, full of love and kindness. She never complained, and was like an angel in our midst for years. She leaves behind her a legacy of love and hugs and many cherished memories. Charlsie Frances "Fannie" Ammons was a blessing to everyone whose life she touched. A vital part of her family's lives, she will be sadly missed.