Frances Chapman Shackelford

She made this world a better place with her fierce love and protectiveness of family, her desire to help other people, her intellect, her positive outlook her practical nature, her tenacity and her joy of life. Frances was preceded in death by her parents V. B. and Ella Chapman, a sister Margaret Huck, a niece Susan Gail Goodenough, and her husband Dr. A.L. Shackelford.

She will be loved always and forever missed by her brother Van; her sister Mildred; her children: Dr. Alan Shackelford (Joyce Swanson), Anne Fish (Kent) and Sally Cody (Tom); her grandchildren: Lauren (Garrett), Vanessa, Travis (Nicole), Drew, Hannah, Casey (Nick) and Ryan; and three greatgrandchildren. Frances also leaves many loved nieces, nephews, cousins

and friends.

Frances was born, raised and lived most of her life in San Antonio. She attended Woodlawn Hills Elementary School, Horace Mann Junior High School, and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1941. She was a proud member of the Lassos. She received a BS in sociology from the University of Texas in 1946 and master's degree in Teaching English as

a Second Language (TESOL) from UTSA in 1975.

As children, Frances and her siblings enjoyed a relaxed and idyllic life in the beautiful Moroccan style home - complete with matching playhouse - built by their father in 1929 in the Woodlawn Hills area of San Antonio. There was a cow, a horse, a few chickens. She was a self-described tomboy and enjoyed riding the horse and occasionally racing with friends on their horses (often trading for a faster steed), roller skating, biking, and climbing trees among many other things. She was curious, well read and very studious. She and her sisters helped their mother and all learned how to take care of a home.

In late 1944 or early 1945, her sister Margaret's date brought over a tall handsome young man to meet Frances. Both parties were smitten and were married about six months later at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in a double wedding ceremony which included her sister Margaret and her

beau. The couples honeymooned in Corpus Christi.

Not long after their wedding, Frances and Al relocated to Clarksville, Arkansas, where Al attended the College of the Ozarks and graduated with a degree in pharmacy. Their first child was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas shortly after graduation, and the young family moved back home to Texas. Settling in Dallas, Al opened his own pharmacy and two daughters were

born. In 1958, the family moved to San Antonio where they built a house next door to Frances' childhood home. Many happy times were spent there. Frances and Al were married for 59 years.

One of Frances' biggest delights was spending time with her grandchildren. She loved each one wholeheartedly. She loved reading to them, playing, and sharing big hugs. She encouraged each one to get a good education and to follow their dreams.

Throughout her life, Frances wore many hats. First of all, and most importantly, she was a loving daughter, sister, wife, aunt, mother and grandma extraordinaire. Having her in our lives was an amazing and extraordinary gift.

She was an entrepreneur and spent many years as an Amway distributor. In the 1970's, she worked at the Defense Language Institute at Lackland AFB where she taught English to students from all over the world including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait, and South Vietnam. She became friends with a few special ones and shared the experience with her family by inviting these select students to her home to prepare and share the foods of their country. She tutored the wife of one of her students and learned taekwondo in the backyard with two of her students as instructors and her daughters as sparring partners. She was interested in people and enjoyed sharing her experiences with others as well as learning as much as she could from others.

Following her years at DLI, Frances became a real estate agent and broker and was active for more than 20 years. She started her own real estate business and managed an office with several realtors. Frances always went the extra mile for her clients, going out of her way to help them in

many ways outside of helping them buy or sell a home. She was well respected and admired by her colleagues as well as her clients.

In 1975, a unique opportunity presented itself that impacted the whole family. The family of one of her DLI students (the taekwondo teacher) had fled South Vietnam when Saigon fell; the family was relocated to a refugee camp at Camp Pendleton, California. Soon a call came from a member of the Vietnamese family asking to be sponsored by Frances and Al. Without hesitation, they agreed and preparations began for the arrival of three adults and six children to live with them in their home. Again, Frances, with assistance from the whole family, did everything she could to help the family adjust to their new life in the US. The family affectionately called Frances 'Lady' and Al 'Cowboy'. After the family was able to move into their own home, they came to visit every week bringing delicious Vietnamese egg rolls and other foods. The Vietnamese family have remained special lifelong friends to Frances and Al and the rest of the family.

It is impossible to define Frances in finite terms. She was sweet and kind yet a very strong person. She was always willing to help anyone. She would give someone her own coat or gloves if they needed them. She was selfless, generous, dedicated, focused and thoughtful. She stood up for her

ideals and was unstoppable when she was onto something. She had a deep spirituality that was expressed in her love for her family and for life. She showed gratitude always, even in her last days. The lessons she taught us are many and every person whose life she touched is better

because of her. She is irreplaceable.

One thing Frances enjoyed in her later years was accompanying her daughter when she delivered meals for Meals for the Elderly. Therefore, in lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Meals for the Elderly, 310 E. Houston Harte, San Angelo, Texas 76903.

Visitation will be held at Porter Loring Funeral Home, 1101 McCullough Avenue in San Antonio, on Monday, May 29, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Service will be held at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, 1520 Harry Wurzbach Road, San Antonio, Texas at 10:00 a.m. sharp on Tuesday, May 30, 2017.