Frances Louise Horn

Frances was born on August 16, 1919 in San Antonio, Texas to her parents, Dick Rodrick Oliver and Frances Elizabeth Eoff Oliver (aka Bessie). Her brother and sister, John Eoff Oliver and Ida Mae Oliver, were 14 and 12 years her senior. Much of her childhood was spent on a farm in Asherton, Texas. Living through the Great Depression, Frances learned the value of frugality, hard work and God's blessings. After the spring crops were harvested in May, their family often spent much of the summer camping on the Nueces or Frio River where they could fish and hunt. Summers were also for visiting her mother's family in Stephenville, where Frances attended the Graham Street Church of Christ and was baptized. After graduating second in her class of five in Asherton, Frances enrolled at John Tarleton Junior College in Stephenville, where she completed her Associates degree in May, 1938.

In June 1938, Frances moved to Austin to take a clerical position with the Texas Unemployment Compensation Commission. She soon began attending University Avenue Church of Christ. Austin and UA would be her home for the rest of her life. After the war, Frances and her parents bought a house in the Rosedale neighborhood. Frances' mother died of tuberculosis there in 1948. Frances was the secretary to the Fiscal Officer at the TEC where she met an assistant accountant, Norman Leon Horn. They were married on October 26, 1949 and were beautiful examples of a happy marriage for 32 years.

By 1958, Frances and Norman had three children, and they began taking them to River Haven on the Frio River each summer. Leakey became the favorite vacation spot for the family, a love that led them to buy a cabin on the river in 1971. Horn Haven would be the center of Horn hospitality and family life together.

With all three kids in school, Frances went back to work at the Biblical Studies Center, where she served for 17 years as a receptionist, secretary, librarian, bookkeeper, friend and counselor. Over the years, innumerable students came to call her "Mom," and most meant it.

Finally, in 1981, Norman and Frances both retired with hopes of spending all summer at Leakey each year; but that fall, Norman was diagnosed with cancer and he was called home to the Lord in April of 1982. Frances had been a daughter and single for 30 years, a wife and mother for 32 years, and would now be a widow and grandmother for 32 years. She found renewed joy in the new additions to the Horn families and in travels with family and friends. For a number of years, her sister Ida Mae spent the summer with her at Leakey where she continued to host a constant stream of family and friends.

Frances was still going strong at the age of 90 when an automobile accident led to a broken collarbone and mild stroke. For the next four years, Frances was blessed by three wonderful caregivers: her daughter-in-law Christiana who took her into her home with Gary in Missouri for a year and a half, her niece Mary Powell who cared for her in Rosedale for a half a year, and her daughter Sheryl who took her into her own home for two years.

Frances was predeceased by her mother Bessie Oliver (6/9/48), a stillborn infant son (8/20/51), whom Frances was looking forward to meeting for the first time in heaven, her father Dick R. Oliver (1/15/68), brother John E. Oliver (9/19/77), husband Norman L. Horn (4/28/82) and sister Ida Mae Powell (6/22/05).

Frances is survived by her son Gary (Christiana) Horn of O'Fallon, Missouri, son Darrell (Pam) Horn of Abilene, Texas, daughter Sheryl Horn of Austin, granddaughter Angela (John) Rogers of Lampasas, Texas, granddaughter Jennifer (Garrett) Hines of Waco, Texas, grandson Norman (Katelyn) Horn of Austin, grandson Dustin (Jill) Horn of Lake Saint Louis, Missouri, granddaughter Michelle (Stewart) Glenn of Colorado Springs, Colorado, 6 great-grandchildren, many other relatives very dear to her, and countless friends.

The visitation will be on Friday, January 3, 2014 from 4 to 6 PM at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home, 3125 N. Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78705. The memorial service will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2014, at 2 PM at Weed-Corley-Fish Funeral Home. Officiant: Eddie Sharp. Eulogy: Paul Riddle. Pallbearers: Norman Horn, Dustin Horn, John Rogers, Garrett Hines, Charlie Hejl, Larry Bob Moore, David Thompson, Bill Van Horn. Frances will be interred alongside her husband Norman at Austin Memorial Cemetery.

Memorials may be directed to the Horn Scholarship Fund at the Austin Graduate School of Theology, 7640 Guadalupe St, Austin, TX 78752.