Mary Frances Haile McCall

Mary Frances was born July 29, 1909 in San Marcos, Texas to the late Isabel Katherine Danforth and Presley Wilson Haile. She was raised on a ranch between Sabinal and Uvalde, Texas. She attended school in Sabinal through her junior year. She graduated from Goliad High School. She attended Mary Hardin Baylor College in Belton, Texas and graduated from Sul Ross State Teacher’s College. In 1935 she married Joe DuBose Brown of Beeville, Texas. They had two daughters, Joanne and Peggy, before his death in 1942. In 1944, Mary Frances married Clarence Clifton “Cliff” McCall, Jr., a widower with two children, Terry and Margaret. Mary Frances and Cliff lived in Beeville with their four children until 1949 when they moved to Victoria. They were active, devoted members of St. Phillip Episcopal Church in Beeville and of Trinity Episcopal Church in Victoria.

Mary Frances was a teacher from 1928-1936, 1942-1944 and 1949-1974. She was with the Victoria Independent School District for 25 years. In her retirement she was Principal of Trinity Episcopal Church School for seven years. Her proudest achievement in her career was being principal of Hopkins School for 20 years. She loved every child who attended Hopkins and felt that each of them had a special talent to develop. She has been very active in the Gulf Bend Mental Health-Mental Retardation Association, in the Social Advocates for Youth Association and numerous professional associations. She served on the Board of Directors of the Becky Lack Day Care Center and was instrumental in founding this organization to serve children of low income working mothers. She also served on the Board of Directors of the Salvation Army and the City-County Child Welfare Board.

On January 24, 1968, Mrs. McCall was honored at the annual Victoria Chamber of Commerce banquet with the “Community Service Award” for “long and devoted service to the Children of Victoria, especially the underprivileged”. On February 22, 1973, Hopkins School and the City of Victoria honored Mrs. McCall with a daylong celebration of “Mary Frances McCall Appreciation Day”.

Mary Frances McCalll was a remarkable woman who devoted her entire life to loving and serving her family and others… and she has left her “mark of service” on her adoring family and on Victoria.

Mary Frances is survived by her son, Terry McCall and his wife Quay of Comanche, Texas; her daughters, Peggy McGaughy and her husband Kent of Houston, and Margaret Dominey of Burton, Texas; her son-in-law, Harold DeGraw of Nevada City, California; eight grandchildren, Leslie McCall and her husband Boris Borizon of New York City, William Hatcher McCall and his wife Elyn of Fort Worth, Texas, Jill Cotton and her husband Tom of Comanche, Texas, Robert C. Davenport and his wife Cori of Pacific Pasalides, California, Nancy Hernandez and her husband Michael of Dallas, Texas, Mary Frances Progar and her husband Brian of Dallas, Texas, Kent McGaughy, Jr. and his wife Emily of Dallas, Texas, and Caroline Alexander and her husband Steven of Austin; twelve great grandchildren, Margaret and Mariji Borizon, Edward J. Cotton, Joanne, Luke, and Lance Davenport, Molly and Elizabeth Progar, Mary Frances and Esme McGaughy and Reed and Brandon Alexander. She is also survived by her nieces, Freda Chounet and Anna Rose Kanning and nephew, Bill Haile.

Mary Frances is preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband Cliff and their daughter, Joanne DeGraw.

A Memorial Service will be held at 12 noon Tuesday, May 31, 2011 at Trinity Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Bur Dobbins officiating. Prior to the Memorial Service, the Family will gather for a Rite of Committal Service at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Victoria where Mary Frances will be buried beside her beloved husband Cliff. Serving as pallbearers will be Mr. William H. McCall, Mr. Robert C. Davenport, Mr. Kent McGaughy, Jr., Mr. William P. Glade, Mr. Melvin Lack, Mr. Jay Lack, and Mr. Simon Perez.

The McCall Family would like to extend their deepest appreciation to the loving and devoted staff of The Hallmark in Houston, Texas who made her last two years so wonderful.

In lieu of flowers, the Family asks that Memorial Contributions be given in her honor to Trinity Episcopal Church / School Scholarships, 1501 N. Glass St., Victoria, Texas 77901 or The Hallmark Employee Gift Fund, Attention Administration, 4718 Hallmark Dr., Houston, TX 77056.

Words of comfort may be shared with the Family at www.colonialfuneralhomevictoria.com

Arrangements are with Colonial Funeral Home, Victoria, TX 361-578-3535