Born July 11, 1936, during the warmest summer weeks of the dust bowl in the middle of the Great Depression, Frances was raised in Altus Oklahoma. The only daughter of J.A. Henry, Jr and Nina Hensley Henry, she was the oldest of three children and grew up among her extended family in a close-knit farm and ranching community. Frances’ upbringing would forever shape her pioneering spirit, strong moral compass, and genuine kindness towards everyone she met.
Frances was a high achieving student and went on to study communications at Briarcliff Junior College in New York. Accepting an invitation to a blind date at the Altus Air Force Officers Club on her 20th birthday, she met her lifelong companion, Lieutenant I. Mac Allister “Mac” Booth. That summer she put off her plans for attending Northwestern University to marry and remain in Altus until Mac completed his military service. The young family moved to Ithaca, New York while Mac completed a Masters in Business. Frances and Mac grounded themselves in their commitment to work and family, raising four children in Arlington, Needham, Weston, Marion and Concord Massachusetts.
Frances always pursued and shared her love of learning and cultural enrichment. An eloquent writer, she never forgot her desire to complete her education and attended Wellesley College as a Continuing Education matriculant (now known as Davis Scholars). She particularly enjoyed her involvement with the Authors on Stage series benefiting the college library. In 1985, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Medieval Italian Renaissance History to the great delight of her husband, children and her first baby granddaughter who all attended her graduation ceremony.
Frances is cherished in memory as a playful and loving woman who embraced life with grace and an impeccable sense of style. Following Mac’s retirement, they enjoyed summers with the extended family in their home in Sunapee, NH. They moved to Spicewood, Texas in 2004, a return to Frances’ roots in the Southwest.
Predeceased by her parents, Frances leaves her husband of 67 years, Mac Booth, her brothers, John A. Henry, III of Dallas, Texas, Robert H. (Madge) Henry, of Wichita Falls, Texas. Her children include David (Adela) Booth of Ridgefield CT, Tom Booth of Baltimore, MD, Molly (Dan) Wellers of Sunapee, NH, and Charlotte (Mike) Barry of Carlsbad, CA., nine grandchildren, Bianca (Greg), Carla(David), Miranda(Suhas), Amelia, Eric, John, Adam, Nolan and Natalie and six great-grandchildren, Hazel, Penny, Mac, Teddy, Maya and Nina. One of her favorite farewell wishes was to wave and call out “you have a very nice family!” Frances made it so.
The family wishes to express their appreciation to Longhorn Village for the continual care of Frances, and especially to Sheila Wambui of Morning Glory Residential Home Care for being the most wonderful friend and nurturer of Frances through her long illness.
A celebration of life will be held in July.
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