Mary Frances Gough

Frances was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 12, 1921, the seventh of nine children born to James Ross and Edith Wyatt Sullinger. She attended Abington High School in Abington, Pennsylvania and graduated in 1939. Frances immediately began her nursing education at Jefferson Medical College Hospital in Philadelphia and received her Registered Nurse Certificate from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in November, 1942.

After working as a private duty nurse, she joined the U. S. Army Nurse Corps. Following a brief stint in the Psychiatric Division at McGuire General Hospital, the Army assigned her to the 194th General Hospital. This assignment from August, 1944, to March, 1946, took her to England, France and Belgium where she served as the Charge Nurse in Orthopedics, General Surgery and Internal Medicine. She was transported on the S.S. Crystabal, which she described as a "banana boat", along with five other female nurses and 200 male hospital personnel, and after eleven days landed in Plymouth, England on October 8, 1944. On December 16th Frances boarded an LST for the all night voyage to LeHarve, France, where they hit the beach. They were met by 6 x 6 trucks for the trip up the coast of France. The housing was a chateau with the windows blown out and most furniture gone, but a fireplace kept them reasonably warm. From here they boarded trains for the journey to Paris arriving on New Years Eve to share C-rations and champagne. Her overseas duty ended in Antwerp, Belgium in March, 1946. Her name is inscribed on the Brazos Valley Veterans Memorial Wall.

After receiving her New Mexico Registered Nurse License, Frances continued her nursing career in St. Francis Hospital, Carlsbad, New Mexico from September, 1949 to July, 1955. During this time she not only worked at the hospital, but also volunteered in the infirmary at the German POW Camp in Carlsbad. In 1955 she moved to Roswell and worked as a relief Hospital Supervisor and Supervisor of General Surgery.

Moving to College Station in 1957, she joined the staff of the Texas A&M University Health Center full-time in 1964 and ended her nursing career there in 1993 as the Coordinator of Nursing Services. During this time Frances played an integral part in the planning and operational aspects from the "old college hospital" to the new Buetel Health Center. She received praise from numerous organizations on campus for her cooperative efforts and for her commitment to excellence. From 1976 to 1993 she served as the Nurse at Fish Camp. Most home A&M football games found her in the First Aid Station attending to Aggie students. During her time at A&M she came to know and care for an uncountable number of Aggies.

Frances was a member of numerous organizations including the Daughters of the American Revolution, National Society United States Daughters of 1812, Daughters of the Colonies, Daughters of the King, Teachers Retirement Association, 12th Man Foundation, and the Red Hat Society.

She was an active member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church since 1957 and belonged to the Adult Group of St. Thomas. Frances was blessed with many friends among the parishioners whom she held very dear. The family wishes to thank the Reverend Lisa Hines and the many church staff who have ministered to her over the years and especially during these past few years.

Frances is survived by her children: Carl Gough of College Station and wife, Kathy, Carlyne Gough Majewski of Austin and husband, George; her grandchildren, Kerry White of Indianapolis and husband, Mike, Ross Majewski of Charlotte, NC, and wife, Heather, Carl Gough III of Jenks, Oklahoma, and wife, Megan, Captain Chris Gough of Keller, Texas and wife, Jane, Captain Casey Gough of Benton, Louisiana, and wife, Lauren; her great-grandchildren, Chloe and Kyle Gough, Hans and Vivian Majewski, Grace and Lily Gough, Stella and Emmett White, Harrison and Charlotte Gough.

Special thanks go out to her care-taker angels, Bonnie and Angie, Hospice Brazos Valley and to the staff at The Grace Place.

Services will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Monday, March 8, 2010, at 2:00 PM with the Reverend Lisa Hines officiating. Visitation will be at the church from 1:30 to 2:00. Internment will follow at College Station Cemetery.

In lieu flowers, donations may be made to Brazos Brazos Valley or St. Thomas Episcopal Church.