Francine was raised in Houston and graduated from John H. Reagan High School, where she was a member of the Reagan Redcoats drill team. She was also chosen by her classmates as “Most Beautiful”. Her school years were spent dreaming of a dance career in New York City but those dreams changed after a blind date with her future husband, Ruben Wert Hope, Jr. The two became inseparable and after two years of dating, they married during Easter weekend in 1959 at Baptist Temple, Houston. As newlyweds they lived in Austin while Ruben attended law school and Francine attended the University of Texas and worked for the Texas Legislature. While at The University of Texas, Francine was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority. As they began their family, they moved to Houston. In 1973, as the family continued to grow, they moved to Conroe where Ruben began a thriving law practice.
Along with raising their three children, Francine became an active volunteer for many organizations and continued to be involved with the community throughout her life. Francine served as President of the Montgomery County Performing Arts Society, a lifetime Vice President of the Montgomery County Fair Association, School Art and International Committees for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a Theatre Foundation Board Member for the Crighton Theatre, President of Montgomery County Panhellenic Alumni Association and President of Conroe High School Golden Girls Drill Team booster club. Francine was also active with the Republican women clubs in Montgomery County including serving as a two-time President of the Lake Conroe Area Republican Women. In 2004, LCARW awarded Francine the Tribute to Women Award. Francine’s commitment to serving communities did not stop with Montgomery County. During Ruben’s third term serving as State Representative, Francine continued her service as President of the Texas Legislative Ladies Club.
Family, education and faith were extremely important to Francine and Ruben. They believed in God and accepted Jesus Christ as their saviors. Francine and Ruben were active at the First Baptist Church of Conroe, including active members of the Encouragers Sunday School class. All three of their children, Tres, Gregg, and Alison were baptized and married at First Baptist Church and they all graduated from Conroe High School and went on to receive college degrees. During Ruben’s time as a school board member for CISD and with the Legislature, they both worked diligently to improve education. Francine took great pride to ensure this legacy would be remembered and her efforts were achieved through the recent dedication of the Ruben W. Hope, Jr. Elementary School in CISD. Go Huskies!
Francine was preceded in death by her husband, Ruben, and parents Ordrea Rea Gordon and Delton Gordon.
She is survived by their three children and spouses: Ruben “Tres” Wert Hope III and wife Holly, Gregg Austin Hope and wife Marcy and Alison Hope Judge and husband Richard. She is also survived by six grandchildren, Danielle Hope Bily, Ruben “Ben” Wert Hope IV, Blythe Hope Becerra, Stuart Hope, Connor Judge and Holden Judge, and four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Charles Gordon, his wife Sherri and their children Greg Gordon, Lindsay Heppner, Anna Kight and Madeline Gordon. Francine is also survived by her brother-in-law Harry L. Hope, his wife Marie Ulrich Hope and their children Brandi McIntosh, Heather Hope, Kyle Hope and Fallon Miles, their spouses and children.
The family would like to express their sincere appreciation to Kathy Rose for being an exceptional care giver to Francine during these past months.
Visitation for Francine will be held Monday, December 27, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Metcalf Funeral Directors, 1801 E White Oak Terrace, Conroe, Texas. A celebration of life will occur Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at Metcalf Funeral Directors.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the Montgomery County Community Foundation, Ruben W. Hope, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, 2001 Timberloch Place, Suite 500, The Woodlands, Texas 77380, or through their website www.MCCFoundation.org.
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