Frances Marie Narramore, 84, of Greenville, TX, passed away on Sunday, February 8, 2015, going home to be with the Lord.
Funeral services will be at 10:00 AM Wednesday, February 11, 2015, in the Coker-Mathews Funeral Home chapel with Dr. Doyle Sumrall and Pastor Carlos Mendoza officiating. Interment will follow at Memoryland Memorial Park. The family will receive visitors from 6-8 PM on Tuesday, February 10, at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Jose Ramirez, Angel Chavez, Miguel Franco, Joe Winniford, George Shields, and Bobby Brooks.
Frances Narramore is survived by her husband of 64 years, David E. (Toby) Narramore. She is also survived by four children, six grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren: daughter Rebecca Kobylecky of Greenville, husband Steve, and granddaughters Alicia Kobylecky of Waco, TX, and Laura Kobylecky of San Marcos, TX; daughter Jaynie Ringman of Wichita Falls, TX, husband Phil, granddaughter Heather Ringman of Houston, TX, grandson Matthew Ringman of Denton, TX, wife Melanie, and great-grandsons Elijah and Joshua Ringman of Denton; daughter Cathleen Narramore of Euless, TX, and husband George J. Martinez; and son David Narramore Jr. of Fairview, TX, wife Diane, and grandsons Jonathan and Tyler Narramore of Fairview.
Frances was born, July 29, 1930, in Waxahachie, TX, to Marie and James Youngblood Jr., who preceded her in death. She grew up in Waxahachie, Fort Worth, and Greenville. She graduated from Greenville High School, where she was a member of the Flaming Flashes. She graduated from Baylor University in 1950, marrying Toby soon afterwards on August 19, 1950, in Greenville, TX. Then they both took teaching jobs in Brownsville, TX, but moved back to Greenville in 1953 to be near their families and to begin their own family.
One of Frances’ greatest joys was studying God’s Word. She was a long-time member and a gifted Bible teacher of First Baptist Church of Greenville where she taught children and later, led an adult Sunday school class. She loved the Lord and walked intimately with Him.
For several years, helping with a language center ministry of First Baptist Church, Frances taught English to learners whose primary languages included Spanish, German, and Chinese. Also, she and Toby were instrumental in establishing and helping grow the church's Hispanic ministry, which today is called New Life at Lakeside in Greenville.
In recent years, Frances found great joy in assisting her husband in their ministry of giving away a book of stories about a little boy who loves Jesus. Toby wrote and illustrated the book.
Frances and Toby returned each fall for many years to South Padre Island, TX, near Brownsville, where Frances enjoyed taking photographs of nature and sunrises over the Gulf of Mexico. Her photographs were displayed and sold locally at South Padre Island. In their later years, they traveled more. They took numerous trips overseas, and enjoyed river cruises in Europe. After finishing a cruise, they would often travel on their own throughout Europe, and they touched many lives in their journeys.