Sarah Francene Haskins

Francene was born September 26, 1930 in Mt. Vernon, Texas to Ira Lovelace and Ester King Lovelace. Her early childhood years were spent in the hill country of East Texas. Her brother, Kent, was born in the same East Texas community in 1936. Some of her earliest memories were walking through a wooded pasture to a country school and being scared of wild animals. But she never saw one.She remembered her legs so very cold while walking to school in the cold East Texas winters. In November 1941 the family moved to Eloy, Arizona. Many people from East Texas came to Arizona looking for work because they had not come through the depression well.The Lovelace family lived in the Green Reservoir area for a number of years.Francene went to school in Eloy through eighth grade.Then the family moved near Coolidge where she attended High School all four years. In High School she met her future husband, Austin Weddle. Being a year older than him she went on to college at Arizona State College and majored in Elementary Education. He finished High School and joined the Marine Corps.They were married in January 1951 and moved to Oceanside, California. In December their first child, Deborah, was born at Camp Pendleton, California. They remained at Camp Pendleton until he was discharged in November, 1953. The family moved to the Eloy area and started farming. Their second child, Gary, was born in April, 1954. Francene started teaching in the Eloy Elementary School District in 1958. Throughout her teaching career she touched many children's lives. But her favorite position was as a Reading Specialist. She dearly loved to help children learn to read. She retired from the Eloy Schools in 1996. Austin Weddle passed away in 1971. Four years later she married William (Art) Haskins. That marriage ended in 1989. Very dear to her heart was her membership in Beta Sigma Phi, her sorority. She spent many years as a member enjoying Sisterhood and Service. Services will be held Friday December 5th 11am at Eloy Memorial Park.