Reverend Fran Thornberry Callaway

Reverend Fran Thornberry Callaway, 80, of Central City, AR, was born with an everlasting, sun-shiny smile that touched many lives, on March 24th, 1941, in Birmingham, AL, and passed away peacefully at home with her family on August 8, 2021. She will always be remembered for her “never-met-a-stranger” personality, with a great “gift-of-gab”, and an always happy song in her heart and soul.

Fran graduated in the Class of 1959 from Northeast High School in Oklahoma City. She continued her education at Stephens College in Columbia, MO, and then at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK. She was the President of her sophomore pledge class in the Pi Beta Phi Sorority and earned a B.A. Degree in Communications from OSU as the first female graduate of the School of Radio-Television. Early in her senior year, Fran began dating her best college friend and fellow classmate, Bob Callaway. They fell madly in love and were wed on October 12th, 1963, in a blessed marriage that would flourish for almost 58 years.

Fran continued her love for education by earning a Masters in Communications from Northeastern State University in Tahlequah, OK. Professionally, she served as the Public Relations Director for Magic Empire Council of Girl Scouts in Tulsa, OK, and later became the Advertising Manager for the Moody’s Jewelry Chain. After moving to Okmulgee, OK, Fran became a feature story writer for the Okmulgee Daily Times Newspaper, and also the Marketing Director for the OSU School of Technology based there.

Then, at the age of 57, Fran answered God’s call to become a Presbyterian Minister and attended Phillips Theological Seminary at the University of Tulsa. During that period, she served as both the Pastoral Intern and Associate Pastor at John Calvin Presbyterian Church in Tulsa, OK. Fran became the solo pastor at Bristow Presbyterian Church in Bristow, OK. She served her church and her community for over six years, with appointments to numerous boards. Fran had found her true purpose in life…teaching God’s word and serving the congregation she loved so dearly.

After retirement, Fran and Bob resettled in Northwest Arkansas. She was predeceased by her parents, L. Howard Thornberry and Alice Margaret Thornberry, and sister Ellen Thornberry McPherson of Oklahoma City. She is survived by her husband Bob, son Trey Callaway, daughter Kendell Callaway Mooney, daughter-in-law Nancy Neufeld Callaway, mother-in-law Helen L Cowan, and four adoring grandchildren, Collin Mooney, Clementine Callaway, Crockett Callaway, and Cosmo Callaway.

A special Memorial Service celebrating Reverend Fran Callaway’s life will be held at First Presbyterian Church of Fort Smith, 116 N 12th St, at 1PM on Friday, August 13th. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the American Cancer Society.