"Well done, good and faithful servant ... enter into the joy of thy Lord." Matthew 25:23


August 13, 2013, after a long battle with lymphoma, Frances Strother, 82, went to her Heavenly home to be in the presence of Jesus Christ, whom she loves so much.


On February 25, 1931, Ida Frances Fraser was born at home on the farm in Huntsville, Texas, to Shiles Moore and Annie Lee Fraser. Frances was named for her grandmothers, Ida Ann Brown and Samantha Frances Fraser.


Frances attended Huntsville Public school until 8th grade. Her family moved to Deer Park, Texas during World War II while her father worked at the Houston Ship Yards. They moved back to Huntsville where she graduated from Huntsville High School at age 16. Frances made a commitment to missions during a summer church trip to Ridgecrest, North Carolina.


Frances attended Sam Houston College and was active in the Baptist Student Union, attending regularly and leading devotionals. At the BSU she met a handsome sailor named Marshall J. Strother. They were married Dec. 17, 1949. Frances graduated from college the next year at age 19. They moved to Waco, Texas where Frances taught school while Marshall attended Baylor graduate school. Their first daughter Marsha Ann was born in 1951. After graduation they moved to Hampshire, Texas. Frances substitute taught and Marshall taught school. In 1953, their second daughter Mary Sue was born.

Shortly thereafter, Marshall made a commitment to missions. Feeling God lead him to full time ministry, they moved to Ft. Worth, Texas to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Frances taught school and Marshall pastored a church in Barry, Texas during this time. Their third daughter Virginia Elizabeth was born in 1959. Frances received a Master of Religious Education and Marshall received his Master of Divinity. They then moved to China, Texas to lead a church. Their son Paul Marshall was born there in 1961.

They continued their journey to serve The Lord and in 1962 moved to Glendive, a small town in northeastern Montana. Frances traveled to a one-room rural plains schoolhouse to teach, while helping at the church where Marshall served as pastor. In 1968 their family and ministry moved to Belmont Baptist Church in Pueblo, Colorado. Frances served in the church and taught school. She also furthered her education and obtained a second Master's degree. In 1978 they organized Grand View Baptist Church in the beautiful mountain community of Beulah, Colorado. Through the years family was very important and they traveled many miles coming to the Fraser Farm in Huntsville, Texas for family reunions. Their many get-togethers always included lots of laughter and playing "Forty-two" dominoes.

Frances retired after many years of teaching in Pueblo, Colorado. After retiring they made many great memories and new friends traveling around the country in their camper. For health and family reasons they moved to Rosenberg, Texas in 1999. They are members of First Baptist Church and enjoy being close to family and many friends. She continued her ministry to The Lord until her death, touching many lives with her encouragement, love and sharing of God's Word.

Frances is survived by her husband of sixty-three years, Marshall, and their four children, Marsha Fraser, Mary Sue and John King, Virginia and Mike Slaughter and Paul and Roxie Strother; eleven grandchildren Ben Cline and wife Tamari, Brian Cline, Aundrea King-Tsang and husband Andrew, Elizabeth King, Daniel King and wife Christine, Jason Roberts and wife Jessica, Andy Slaughter and wife Angela, Cara Slaughter, Timothy Strother, Samantha Strother and Wade Strother; seven great-grandchildren, Caelum Cline, Raidon and Annabelle King, Ellery and Emma Roberts and Rory and Rebekah Slaughter; her sisters Mary Brown and Sue Fallin, her brother Shiles Fraser and wife Rose; and many nieces and nephews and dear life-long friends.

Frances is preceded in death by her parents, Annie and Shiles Fraser, her sisters, Virginia Fraser, Margaret Hubbell, and baby sister, Ruth Fraser, her brothers-in-laws, F.E. Hubbell, Bill Fallin and Mack Brown. The death of her grandson Jared King in 2011 was a great loss.

The family is grateful to the many friends who have supported, transported and loved Frances and Marshall through the years.


In lieu of flowers, please send memorial contributions to the American Cancer Society, the Gideon's, or to a charity of your choice.

A Memorial service will be held 11 AM Saturday, August 17, 2013 at First Baptist Church, 1117 First Street, Rosenberg, TX, with Rev. Zach Nicholson officiating. A private family viewing has already been held.

Condolence messages may be written for the Strother family at www.garmanycarden.com.

Services are under the direction of Garmany & Carden Funeral Directors, 1201 Fourth Street, Rosenberg, TX 77471 (281)342-4671.