Frances Sayles

Family and friends will gather to celebrate her life at 10am on Saturday, March 13th at Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home located at 5701 US Hwy. 277 South in Abilene. Interment will follow in Abilene Municipal Cemetery in the Sayles family plot on 10th and Cottonwood. Visitation will be Friday, March 12th, 2021 from 5-7pm at Elliot-Hamil Funeral Home. Arrangements are under the personal care of Elliott-Hamil

Funeral Home.

Marjorie Frances Sayles was born in Abilene, Texas on March 10, 1942 to John Welcome Sayles and Marjorie Bland Sayles, into a family of one of Abilene’s pioneers and founders. She was graduated from Abilene High School and attended Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, prior to her marrying and having children. Frances was a homemaker while rearing her children and was a realtor in Lubbock, Texas for several years. Frances owned and operated a successful dried flower business called “Prairie Pickens”. She had a knack for creating things that were unique and thoughtful. Many friends and relatives helped her pick and dry wildflowers over the years. She sold her finished products at small home exhibits.

Frances was an excellent fisherwoman, consistently out fishing her male relatives, to their dismay! Many times, being right beside them. She loved taking vacations at the beach and grew up spending summers going to Rockport, Texas and South Padre Island, Texas. Frances enjoyed playing dominos and card games, having taught many children and grandchildren how to play those games. She had a group of long-time friends who played Spades on a regular basis for many years. Frances also enjoyed traveling, going to Europe, Hawaii, Mexico and multiple US states. She loved antiques and was an excellent decorator.

Frances was a gregarious, larger-than-life socialite. A friend to many, she always carried a lively energy wherever she went, speaking fondly and lovingly of those that she knew and was close with. Frances had a loud and hearty laugh that would frequently cheer up those she was around. She had an active social life and attended multiple events, clubs and small gatherings of friends on a regular basis. Known for her keen sense of style and green thumb, her home was always a welcome place for friends and family alike. Throughout her life, she was actively involved in horticulture, planting and growing flowers at her home.

Frances, is survived by her son, Joe R. Grist Sr. of Snyder, Texas, his children: Joe R. Grist Jr. of Austin, Texas, Brandon M. Grist, Brianda Lozano and son Noah Mac Grist of Abilene, Texas, and Matthew A. Grist of San Angelo, Texas; former daughter in law Brenda Fay Claessens; Joe’s father, John E. Grist of Snyder, Texas; her brother John R. Sayles of Nashville, Tennessee and wife Michael; niece Light Elizabeth Sayles Rodriguez, husband Sal and children of Nashville, Tennessee; nephew John Tyson Sayles and children of Long Beach, California; cousin Jimmy Sayles of Abilene, Texas; aunt Rosemary Bland Hayter of Abilene, Texas; cousins Rex Bland, Diltzie Bland Edmondson, John Bland, Becky Bland Brown of Trent, Texas and their children and grandchildren of the Bland family in Trent, Texas; cousin Mills Tandy of Costa Rica.

She was preceded in death by her son, John Mac Grist; father John “Jack” Welcome Sayles; mother Marjorie Bland Sayles; uncle Herman Knight; aunt Bobbie Bland Knight; uncle R.L. Bland; cousin Steve Bland; aunt Fae Bland Tandy; uncle Hugh B. “Shu” Tandy; cousin Bland Tandy; cousin Nan Tandy; cousin Kerry Tandy and former spouse William Patrick Murphy.

Despite her busy social life, she always found a way to prioritize her family’s needs above all else. She was a wonderful mother and loved being a grandmother and great grandmother, who treated her grandchildren as if they were her own, sacrificing many days caring for them.

She was the centerpiece of her family and leaves a void that can never truly be filled.

Frances was good at noticing people that were suffering and then gifting them unannounced with that which they were in need of, whether it be groceries, clothing or her time and attention, all the while not telling others of the acts of kindness that she did, but those that received her blessings were sure to remember her generosity and love.

She will be deeply missed by family, friends, and all who knew her.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a charity of your choice in the care of Marjorie Frances Sayles.

Services can be streamed using the link below on the day of service.