Curtis Albritton
So many memories of Francis.
Lots of time spent at her house when Mom and Dad would send us there when we were young.
I didn't really understand why we were left there so often until I had kids of my own.
I remember her cat/cats. They always scratched me.
I eventually learned to stop chasing them and trying to pull them out from their hiding places. For the rest of her life, every time I visited, she would tell me she had cats, but I never saw a trace of one.
I remember her sewing room and all the stuff in there that we weren't allowed to touch. She sewed so many things.
I remember her cake making . She had ALL the tools to make the most beautiful cakes. One of the better times to be there because of all the icing I could steal while sitting at the bar watching her make the flowers and fancy boarders on her cakes.
I remember the closet in the hallway that had all the games, and so much other stuff that I was never allowed to pilfer through.
When I was young, I thought that Francis was mean, but looking back, I'm sure I deserved whatever rather I received.
I remember family get togethers on Thanksgiving and Christmas at her house. I think the best ones of all that the family had, were at Francis's house. The house just seemed to be a perfect layout for those gatherings. The living room, the den, the bar for serving food. I really miss those family get togethers.
As a teenager, the little kids that were at them are now all grown and have kids, and some grandkids of their own, and Francis was a constant through all of them.
As those get togethers stopped happening, Francis would keep me caught up on all of them with pictures on her iPad, and stories of what was going on with them and their families, while we sat at the bar and talked.
Francis adapted well to new technology, better than most. I remember all the emails she would send with jokes or funny stories. Most of which I would only see when I would empty my email, because I just didn't do that on a daily basis.
Just too many memories to put down here, and I didn't even mention her bus driving days, and how some of her "kids" actually helped me with my automotive repairs by presenting my issues to just the right kids who would give me the answers I didn't even know I needed. An early form of networking by Francis, the bus driver.
I'll never go near, or hear the name Pearland, without thinking of Francis.
I can't drop off or pickup people for m Hobby without parking a while in the observation areas and watching the landing and takeoffs.
She was strong, and determined, which I guess could be interchanged with stubborn, and hardheaded. But if you think about it, that's the very type of person you would want on your side.
Francis will be sorely missed by many, many people.
The world will be a lesser place without her in it.
Rest in peace Aunt Francis.
I love you
