Mary Frances Grote

Mary Francis Grote, 83, died Saturday morning, September 16, 2006 at the Austin Hospice Christopher House after a short illness. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 19, at the Mausoleum Chapel located on the grounds of Capital Parks Cemetery with James Payne officiating. Mary Frances was born on August 1, 1923 in Little Rock Arkansas. Her family moved back to North Texas shortly afterwards and later moved to Bryan, Texas where her father was a director of the Extension Service at Texas A&M College. She graduated from the University of Texas with a degree in Nutrition in 1945 and married Alex Richard Grote, Jr. on August 14, 1946. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last month. Mary Frances and Richard moved to Austin in 1957 and she began a 28 year career of elementary education at the Del Valle ISD. She taught 3rd grade students at I.W. Popham and Hornsby Bend schools. She was preceded in death by her parents, Milton T. and Mary Alice Payne; brothers, J.B. Payne, Perry Payne, Milton T. Payne, Jr.; and a sister, Alma Mickle. She is survived by her husband; two sons and daughters-in law, David and Cindy Grote of Dallas, Texas and James and Barbara Grote of Fredericksburg, Texas; and three grandchildren, Stephanie Grote of Dallas, Texas, Paul Grote of Denton, Texas and Robert Grote of Lubbock, Texas. Pall Bearers included Paul Grote, Rob Grote, Charles Grote, Frederick Grote Jr., Glen Grote, and Scott Grote. Obituary and guestbook online at wcfish.com