Frances M. Boyett

Frances Boyett passed away peacefully on April 4, 2016 in Austin, TX. She was born January 18, 1925, in Meridian, MS, the only child of Dr. Charles T. Burt and Mary Edna Hulett. After graduating at age 16 from Meridian High School with highest honors, she attended Huntingdon College in Montgomery, AL before completing her associates degree at Meridian Junior College. During World War II, she worked as a secretary (and superior typist) in several military installations across the South. This led to a Civil Service assignment in Starkville, MS, where Frances met the love of her life on a blind date, veteran Ben Lindsey. In 1949, Frances and Ben married in her home in Meridian shortly after Ben’s graduation from Mississippi State University. In 1953, Ben and Frances moved to Austin, where Ben was an assistant manager of the downtown Stephen F. Austin Hotel. Although subsequent moves in Ben’s hospitality career would follow (to San Antonio, Knoxville, TN, Frankfort, KY, Springfield, IL, Bay City, TX and Arkadelphia, AR), Ben and Frances always considered Austin home. After Ben’s death in 1971, Frances returned to Austin in 1972. In 1975, Frances married Ernest Boyett and moved to Telegraph, TX, near Junction in Kimble County. Mr. Boyett was a semi-retired lobbyist, so they maintained a residence in Austin for legislative sessions. In 1985, Frances was widowed again and returned permanently to Austin.

Prior to her retirement in 1990 from the Texas Senate Journal Clerk’s Office, her career included assignments to two Texas State Senators in the 1950s; several legal secretary jobs; executive manager for development at Ouachita Baptist University; administrative secretary for the Texas Historical Commission; and the first executive secretary of the Texas Association of Assessing Officers.

Frances lived life to its fullest. She loved to travel, play bridge, listen to Lawrence Welk music, try new restaurants, watch movies, read, tell and listen to good stories, and enjoy pets. But her greatest joys came from her family, her church, and endless friendships spanning all generations across the country. Frances never met a stranger and always bloomed where she was planted.

Frances was preceded in death by her parents, her two husbands, and stepson Rev. Jackson Boyett and his wife Barbara. She is survived by her only child, Ben Lindsey, Jr. and daughter-in-law Carol Lindsey of Austin, and grandsons Matt Lindsey of Austin and Andrew Lindsey of Washington DC.

A memorial service honoring her resilient life and loving spirit is scheduled for Saturday, May 21 at 1:00 PM at Highland Park Baptist Church, Austin, TX, officiated by Rev. Cheryl Kimble. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Frances’ honor to Highland Park Baptist Church, the Texas Baptist Children’s Home, or Austin Pets Alive!