Frances Coffman Haralson

Frances was the oldest daughter of the late Dr. J.L. Coffman and Bettie Mae Blalock Coffman. She attended elementary and high school in Whiteville and was forever proud of and devoted to her father “Dr. Jim” and especially to her beloved mother “Miss Bettie Mae.” Frances grew up singing and playing the piano with her mother in the Whiteville First United Methodist Church, of which she was a lifelong member. Growing up in the country town of Whiteville with her parents and two sisters Ellen and Jamie provided Frances with her strong roots of faith, service above self, love of nature and animals, and hard work.

Frances married Joseph Frank Haralson of Brownsville, TN in 1939 and the couple moved to Memphis. Frank became a special sales representative for the United States Chamber of Commerce and Frances accompanied him on many of his business trips around the country. In 1955 her son Richard was born, followed by Lisa in 1959. The Haralson family moved to Houston in 1962 and Frances continued to be a supremely devoted housewife and mother. A job transfer took the family to Richardson, TX in 1969; then they returned to Houston in 1973 after Frank was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Frances spent many years selflessly caring for her husband, her children, and her mother, and she volunteered with the Houston Area Parkinson Society. She made lifelong friendships with her neighbors in every city she lived in due to her endearing generosity and hospitality.

Nothing was more important to Frances than her family and she deeply cherished her time spent with her two sisters, her children, her beloved grandchildren Scot and Sierra, son-in-law Mark, and of course all the family dogs. Frances loved all genres of music, reading, and was an avid and talented gardener and tended to her yard and flowers up into her 90’s. She was a lady who took the time to stop and smell the roses and thrived on the simple pleasures of life. She was also the family historian, penning beautifully handwritten letters to her family and friends, and detailed diaries chronicling family and world events plus quotes and prayers she lived by. Frances delighted everyone lucky enough to meet her with her quintessential southern charm and inner grace.

Frances will be forever missed and her memory cherished by all those who knew and loved her. Her legacy of compassion, gratitude, and forgiveness will be a continued blessing for her family. Her survivors include her son Richard Haralson of Houston, daughter Lisa Andreason of Sugar Land, grandson Scot Andreason and wife Brandi of Irvine, CA, granddaughter Sierra Andreason and son-in-law Mark Andreason, both of Sugar Land, TX. For those desiring, memorials may be made to Whiteville First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 306, Whiteville, TN 38075, or to All Texas Dachshund Rescue at www.atdr.org.