Frances Dear's Obituary
Frances Dear
Born January 7, 1930 to Lela Ellen Stallings Siler and Joseph Beecher Siler in Memphis, TN.
She leaves behind 2 sons, Steven Ellis Dear and Janie Dear (Gorman), of Naples FL ,
grandson, Taylor Dear and granddaughter, Lillian Dear; and son, David Emerson Dear
and Dr. Carolyn Dear (Landsee) of Pensacola, FL, a grandson, Dr. Alexander Dear, and
great granddaughter, Amelia.
She was a direct descendant of Andreas Siler of Siler City, North Carolina, having arrived in North Carolina in the 1600’s.
She attended Bruce Elementary, Bellevue Junior High and Messick High School, learning the sciences and playing sports. She was born into a sports loving family and loved to go to the ballpark with her sister to watch the Memphis Chicks. She also loved going to the Overton Park Shell to listen to music at night. After high school, she attended and graduated from the Sophie Newcomb College, School of Nursing, Tulane University. She followed with an internship at Touro Infirmary, assisting Doctors in the Operating Room. She branched out to Private Duty nursing, caring for the brother of the man she would fall in love with and later marry, Ellis Emerson Dear. They were married in New Orleans at Second Baptist Church,
St. Charles Avenue, July 11, 1953. They welcomed their sons, David in 1955 and Steven in 1956.
She practiced nursing until 1955, staying at home to care for her children, her first priority. In 1965, the family moved to Memphis for Ellis’ career and to be near her Mother and family. As a child, she belonged to First Baptist Church in Memphis and later joined Second Presbyterian Church in 1967 when they moved back to Memphis from New Orleans. Her personal walk with Christ and her Christian Faith meant everything to her. She became active at Second Presbyterian Church in the Women of the Church and was a member of various Sunday School classes over the years. She led many circles and was President, Vice President, and Treasurer of many of them. Her passion was The Duration Club, and it’s members, where she became President of the Club. She ran the Thrift Store to raise money for the Duration Club and handicapped children. She was a member of Brooks Art Gallery, the Memphis Symphony League, Memphis Museum of Art, and Dur Arts, where she served as President, Vice President, and Treasurer. She was a member and local President of the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities and later volunteered for the Fontaine House in Victorian Village. She catalogued every item in the House on 3x5 note cards and cross referenced them for inventory. She volunteered for the Memphis Decorator’s Showhouse for many years. She was also a member of the English Speaking Union. Her life’s work was recognized as she was nominated for Volunteer of the Year for the City of Memphis.
She was a proud Wife, Mother and Grandmother. After her husband Ellis died, she moved to be with her son Steven and daughter-in-law Janie and to be near her grandchildren, moving first to Vermont and later to New Jersey. She was very active in the Women of the Church, at the First Presbyterian Church of Ridgewood, New Jersey. With their plans of moving to Naples, she came to live with David and Carolyn, and be near her grandson, Alex, and great granddaughter, Amelia. She set up her apartment and loved keeping up with old friends from the various cities where she lived. With declining health, she moved to the Montrose Bay Nursing Facility in Fairhope, AL. She led a lifetime of giving back and helping others . She left this earth to be with Jesus, her husband, Ellis, and family.
Private Services were held, Tuesday, July 25, 2023 in the Garden of Angels, Memorial Park with burial in the Mausoleum, next to her loving husband, Ellis E. Dear. Please make any donations to your non-profit of choice.
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