Frances Harlene Grooms

Frances Harlene (Cates) Grooms took her final journey into the arms of her heavenly father on Jan. 10, 2015, in San Angelo, Texas.Frances was born Oct. 14, 1939, in Menard, Texas, to Clarence Walker (Jack) and Veda Irene Cates.Frances married the love of her life, L.C. Grooms on Nov. 1, 1962. With her daughter, Shelia and his two daughters, Jenice and Donna, their home was already eventful. They shared their love through the birth of two more children, Ricky and Donald.Frances loved being a mother and a homemaker in every sense of the word as she loved nothing more than a houseful of children and making her delicious homemade yeast rolls and chocolate meringue pies. She also loved her Lord and her church which she attended every time the doors were opened. She was her happiest singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school and helping L.C. on the church bus picking up the children all over San Angelo to take them to Baptist Temple to hear the word of God. Frances helped care for all of her grandchildren in their youth and spent many Saturdays at football, baseball and/or soccer games cheering them on.Frances was preceded in death by her husband; her parents; siblings Billy Cates and his wife Kathleen, Donald Cates and his wife, Lavonne, Lajuana Green and her husband, Eugene.She is survived by her brother, Sonny Cates of Bryan, Texas; her sister, Alta Lafon McCleery of Lubbock, Texas; children Donald Grooms and wife Angie of Water Valley, Texas, Ricky Grooms and wife Trisha of Canyon Lake, Texas, Shelia Gist and husband Michael of San Angelo, Donna Wooten and husband Gerald of Sheffield, Texas, and Jenice Holmes of Belton, Connecticut. She is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.After a heart attack at age 64, Frances moved to Senior Care Center, where she loved playing bingo and having coffee with the staff.The family would like to show appreciation and gratitude to the nursing staff at Senior Care of San Angelo, Community Medical Center PCU; especially Dr. Brewer, Audrey, Morgan, Ruben and M.J. and Debra and Tracey with Hospice of San Angelo, as they were angels in caring for her.Family visitation is from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Johnson's Funeral Home. Funeral service is at 2 p.m. Wednesday in Johnson's Funeral Home chapel with burial following in Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens. Rev. Ben Hubert of First Christian Church will be officiating.Family and friends may sign the online register book at johnsons-funeralhome.com.