Francys Ann Ballenger

Francys Ann Ballenger reached up and touched the face of her Lord and Savior in the early hours of February 27th, 2024. Francys was a long-time resident of Dallas and Addison. She was born on March 14, 1949, in Big Spring, Texas, to Robert Turner Ballenger and Dollye Neal Ballenger, members of a pioneer West Texas ranching family. Francys was raised in Midland, Texas, the youngest of three girls. They spent their summers at the ranches in Glasscock and Upton counties, where their father taught them to be ranch hands. Francys attended school in Midland and graduated from Midland Lee High School in 1967 and then earned a degree in Music Education from what was then known as West Texas State University in Canyon, Texas. From there, she moved to Dallas and taught elementary school music in Highland Park, Texas for a few years. Francys was involved in the family ranching and oil business for the rest of her life.

Francys Ann, as she was always known, was taught by her parents and aunts and uncles to have a deep respect for both the land and the animals. She raised and showed Cavalier King Charles Spaniels for many years and always enjoyed the company of her dogs wherever she was. In her younger years, Francys was an accomplished singer and guitar player. She sang professionally in and around Dallas and had the voice of an angel. She loved music and the old traditional hymns.

Francys had a deep and abiding faith and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior at an early age. She studied the Bible and took comfort in scripture and lessons. Francys loved her family deeply and that love extended to her friends and caretakers, whom she treated like family. Francys loved her extended family and even though she could not physically be with them at times, she always wanted to know what everyone was doing. Francys loved to travel and she and was very active for most of her life. She was very generous with her time and resources to family and friends and would help anyone that she could. She had a very quick and dry sense of humor and could catch you off guard if you were not paying attention. She will be sorely missed by all who knew her and were touched by her presence.

Francys was preceded in death by her parents, Robert T. Ballenger and Dollye Neal Ballenger, her sister and brother-in-law, Lynda and Larry Glass of Sterling City, Texas, her niece, Scarlett Squire, of Plano, Texas, her cousin Jessie Neal Coonrod of Laredo, Texas, and several aunts and uncles and cousins.

She is survived by her lifetime partner, Dr. Jill Reitmeyer of Indiana, her sister and brother-in-law Barba and David Keene of Plano, Texas, three nephews and their spouses, Robert and Brooke Glass of Spur, Texas, Fred and Bonnie Squire of Midland, Texas and Jeff and Priscilla Glass of Big Spring, Texas, treasured and beloved friend Angelica Lamar of Muenster, Texas, longtime friend Jan Williamson of Jefferson, Texas, and several great nieces and nephews and cousins. The family would like to also include her wonderful caretakers and friends, Gwen Richardson, Meskerem Arega , Elodia Torres, Stacy Williamson, Cordelia Tabvuma, Sue Monroe , and many others who were treasured by Francys. We also extend our gratitude to her trusted advisors Rebecca Covell and Shannon Guthrie, Kelsey Head and Joe Brophy who all went above and beyond to help Francys. You were her family too.

A Celebration of Francys' life will be held on Thursday, March 7 at 10:00 AM at Sparkman-Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas, Texas 75225. A family visitation and reception at the funeral home will follow the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests memorial donations be made to Operation Kindness in Carrollton, Texas, an animal charity of your choice or The Human Rights Campaign Foundation.

Godspeed, Francys. We are all better off for having been a part of your life.

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness.

2nd Timothy 7-8.