Frances Cook Rutledge

Frances Cook Rutledge, 87, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and child of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, was peacefully called home to be with her Master on Sunday, November 22, 2009. Born to Clyde and Minnie Biffle Cook in Pontotoc on February 1, 1922, she moved with the family to the Florida Keys where Clyde worked helping build the Miami to Key West railroad. Later moving to Gladewater, TX, where Clyde and brother Alvis worked in the east Texas oil fields, Frances graduated from Gladewater High School. She attended Kilgore Junior College and later graduated from North Texas State University with a degree in medical technology. Frances worked in hospitals in the Dallas area during World War II: during this time she met and married Laney Rutledge. Through the remainder of her husband's 30 year career in the service, Frances had four children, and lived on Air Force bases all over the United States and two years in England.Moving to Pontotoc in 1961, Frances began her teaching career at Beckham Elementary in 1962, where she taught 5th and 6th grades. She then taught Biology and English at Algoma High School, and finally taught Biology and English at South Pontotoc High School, where she retired in 1984 after teaching for 22 years.Frances was a member of Algoma Methodist Church where she was the church pianist for many years. She also taught Sunday school and served the church in many ways before moving to Magnolia Manor Assisted Living, and finally to Pontotoc Nursing Home. Frances wrote the Algoma news for the Pontotoc Progress for several years. She was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Algoma Homemakers and Pontotoc Retired Teachers. Frances loved crossword puzzles, jigsaw puzzles and reading.Services will be at 2:00 PM Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at Browning Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Kerry Powell and Rev. Matthew McGrew officiating, burial will follow in the Old Cook Cemetery. Browning Funeral Home in Pontotoc is in charge of the arrangements.Frances is survived by daughters: Donna Wages (Gerald) Tupelo, MS; Mary Lea (John) Tulsa, OK; Cynthia Duke (Jim) of Algoma, MS; a son: George (Judy) Rutledge of South Pontotoc, MS; grandchildren: David Wages, Mike Lea, Bethany Lea, Brennan Lea, Hannah Duke, Sarah Todd (Ryan), Holly Rutledge; great grandson: Max Todd; a niece Judy Jung of Austin, TX; and a nephew: Wayland Jones (Debbie) of Longview, TX.She was preceded in death by her parents, the father of her children, a brother Alvis Cook, sisters: Icy Cook and Jesca Cook, and a grandson Benjamin Lea.Pallbearers will be: Gerald Wages, David Wages, John Lea, Mike Lea, Jim Duke, Ryan Todd.Visitation will be from 5 to 8 PM Monday and from 12 to 2 PM Tuesday at the funeral home.Memorials may be made to Algoma Methodist Church, Old Cook Cemetery Fund at the First National Bank of Pontotoc, or the charity of choice.