Dora Francis

Dora Mae Francis went to be with our Lord, peacefully, on June 3, 2015, after a series of strokes.\r\n \r\nDora Mae was born August 22, 1925. She had five sisters and three brothers and was from Victoria, Texas. The family enjoyed riding horses and swimming in their tank on their farm when they weren't doing their chores. Her Dad was from Switzerland and of German decent, whose family came to America when he was just eight years old. Her mother's family was from Sweden and born in Clay Center, Kansas. \r\n \r\nDora Mae met Ben during the war in Victoria, TX while he was stationed there, waiting for deployment in the Army Air Force. After Dad left for the war, Dora worked for Humble Oil & Refinery in Baytown. She was particularly proud of the fact that she received "a man's pay" in the lab! \r\n \r\nAfter returning home Ben started his own business named Southern Radio & Television in Baytown. Shortly thereafter Sharon Gayle was born and six years later, Lana Darlene. Dora Mae was the bookkeeper for Southern Radio, but spent most of her time being a stay at home Mom raising her girls, attending school and church activities at First Baptist. \r\n \r\nDora had many family adventures. Ben owned a small plane and flew the family all around the USA and to visit out of town relatives in both Victoria and Temple on the weekends. They spent many summers camping at Garner State Park in the 50's and 60's; that is where they both fell in love with the Texas Hill Country. \r\n \r\nAt retirement in 1982 to Kerrville, Ben joined the Texas Baptist Men, along with dozens of other couples, and in their RV's traveled all over Texas to help build and remodel churches. The men would work all week long, while the women would evangelize the neighborhoods, hold Bible school for children, ending the week with a Baptist Revival. They even went to Hawaii for one church addition.\r\n \r\nBesides traveling to National Campgrounds all over the US through the years, Fun Valley in South Fork, Colorado was one of their favorite vacation spots. They had gone to Colorado and out west for many years before retirement, but this provided a place where many of their friends and relatives could meet for several months at a time.\r\n \r\nWhen they were not hitting the road in their RV with friends, Mom sang in the Prime Time Choir, at Trinity Baptist Church; she had a beautiful voice.\r\n \r\nAfter Ben's passing in 2008, Mom kept busy playing 42 with friends, going to exercise, volunteering at the Concern Center, and was a member of the Agape Class at Trinity Baptist; all of this just until her recent strokes.\r\n \r\nDora Mae always had a sweet smile on her face, was full of joy, and will be sorely missed by her family and all who were blessed to know her. \r\n \r\nDora Mae is survived by her daughters: Sharon Francis Walling & husband Floyd, from Kerrville, and Lana Roland Loveland & husband Charles of Houston. Grandchildren: Audrey Roland Duncan & husband Andrew of Austin, and Evan Roland of Houston. Surviving siblings include: sister, Ann Jackson & husband Jess Jackson of Houston and brother, Lindy Forster & wife Sylvia, of Port Lavaca, besides numerous nieces and nephews.\r\n \r\nMemorial services will be held at Trinity Baptist Church at 11 a.m., Monday, the June 8th.\r\n \r\nIn lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Peterson Hospice, Dietert Center, or Trinity Baptist Church Building Fund.\r\n \r\n[contact-form-7 id="73" title="Send Condolences"]