Dorothy Frances Evans Henson, 86, was called home by the Lord to join those she missed and loved Tuesday morning, December 3, 2019. She had experienced a ten-year struggle with complications related to Parkinson’s disease.
Dorothy was the quintessential daughter, sister, granddaughter, niece, aunt, wife, mom, mother-in-law, grandmother, great grandmother, friend and neighbor. She always put everyone first as she lifted them with her soft, kind words of encouragement, a sparkle in her dark brown eyes, that little laugh and her wonderful ability to listen. She always made time for you…..listened intently and left you feeling much better. We were blessed to share all these years with her. Her sweet Christian guidance will be missed.
Dorothy was the second of three siblings. She was born on Tuesday, April 25, 1933 just east of Farmersville, Texas at home on her grandfather Hillary “poppa” Evans’ farm located just west of the Collin- Hunt County line. Poppa had three small houses for migrant workers that he called “wieners” for his married kids to move into until they could afford a place of their own. Her parents were W.W. “Spooks” and Mary Frances Murchison Evans both of Farmersville. Her Aunt Bill and Uncle “Willie” Wilson Tyler were her next-door neighbors in her youth.
Dorothy attended school those first two years in Floyd, Texas near Greenville and was in Miss Viola Titsworth’s class for both grades. She met and became friends with Lee Greenwade Cole at Floyd. She added Jo Ann Bullock Crawford as a friend when her mom’s best friend visited and they met. The Bullock’s lived north of town out near Indian Creek of SH78 and ran a dairy. On Dorothy’s visits there, they searched the creek banks for arrowheads and finally she found her prize arrowhead she had into her adult life. Then, she transferred to Farmersville Ward Elementary School in the third grade. However, that year they added another grade (the 12th grade), so she skipped the third and entered fourth grade. She joined Jo Ann, Carolyn Latham Alexander, Betty Butler Drain Peurifoy, and other classmates she knew from First Baptist Church in Farmersville and other activities she attended. Those friendships lasted a lifetime. Some of them are here. Today, while others greeted her as she crossed into eternity on Tuesday.
At age 4, her family moved up to the south side of Highway 24 (now SH380) approximately two miles west of her birthplace to a farm owned by her great aunt, Menko “Aunt Mankie” Murchison Leeper. Her daddy, “Spooks” Evans was a farmer and her mama, Mary Frances, was a homemaker. Dorothy was named for her mother’s youngest sister, Dorothy Murchison, and her grandmother, Frances Battle Murchison. She shared the middle name Frances with her mother whom her mother adored.
Dorothy had an older brother, Billy Weldon, born on September 9, 1929 and a younger sister, Linda Kaye, born on September 22, 1941. Dorothy was affectionately known as “Titter” in her immediate family after sister Lin’s attempt at trying to say “sister”. Of course, the nickname stuck and her mother called her that until the last breath. Like most victims of nicknaming, she did not approve. In an effort to correct this, brother Billy called her “Dottie” or “Dot” as did most of her friends in school.
Her mother began teaching Dorothy at a very early age how to do things around the house. First, the chores were minimal and included feeding the chickens and collecting eggs, helping care and select items from the garden, and general tidiness in the house. She carefully explained and showed Dorothy the precise way to wash, boil water, add bluing, hang clothes on the clothesline outdoors, to fold, add starch, and to iron them, prepare meals and make a grocery list. The icebox in those days was a wooden box that contained a large block of ice and a tray to catch the water underneath as the ice melted. This was one of Dorothy’s daily chores…to dump the water. Mama always would show Dorothy the correct way to do things, follow-up, and have her re-do it until she got it right, stressing “Someday a family will rely on you to care, prepare and love them. I have to teach you and you must learn this, so pay close attention!”
Dorothy was a quick learner and had lots of natural ability for a pre-teen girl. Things cane easier to her and this tended to annoy her mother at times. Soon, Dorothy could do it all….do the chores outside, cleaning inside, washing, plan a meal, prepare it, do the cleanup and so much more. Dorothy could bake, sew, pick peas and deeply loved her family. He mother did an excellent job of guiding her not only with this facet of life but also she took her to church, discussed what being a Christian and being “good” was all about, and turned to scripture in troubled times for guidance and resolve. Her mother was a good, loving, caring Christian lady who loved Jesus and knew all of the words written in red (…..God’s teachings) but she was often filled with doubt in her mind…..worry that things would not turn out right….that plagued Mama every day of her life. She considered the worst scenarios and possibilities. She once said “None of you kids or the next two generations or more will have to worry about a thing as I have done it all for each of you.” And, no truer words were ever spoken.
At age 12, Dorothy and her family attended a revival brush arbor church service east of town and came forward with her dad to both profess of their sins. Both were baptized. This was the change Dorothy knew she would base her entire life on, concentrated on love and service, following the Lord’s plan.
Dorothy Frances loved her family, her parents, her brother and sister. She and Billy spent many days on Brushy Creek near their home with cousins and friends crawdad fishing and catching turtles and frogs. Since they lived on a farm and her dad was a farmer, she like most of her friends, had limited funds but there were great sleepovers, good eats and treats and fun-filled times spent at church and holiday get-togethers with family. Time moved on and Dorothy began to grow up.
Dorothy rode the school bus to and from school daily during high school driven by Auby Henson. He was a friendly, nice, good-looking, popular man that shared a partnership with a local friend in a local service station, had been in the military, loved sports, attended all high school football games, played baseball on the local semi-pro baseball team, was a volunteer fire fighter, loved Bob Wills, country music and….dancing.
Dorothy worked in downtown Farmersville at the Cornes’ Theatre on South Main while she was a senior in high school with one of Auby’s best friends, Howard “Cedrick” Langley (the “projectionist”). Soon, Auby would ask her out and they would begin a lifetime romance. To say she had an interest was an understatement. She knew she loved him from the first time they talked. Some did not think it would last as Auby was 8 plus years older and quite “worldly”. They married on September 12, 1950 and their marriage lasted almost 66 years until July 18, 2016 when he went to be with the Lord.
Of course, growing up in Farmersville, Dorothy loved the relationship she had with her grandparents Big Mama and Big Dad Murchison, her mom’s parents, who lived on the road to Sugar Hill and Merit on the northern edge of town on ancestral property. She loved spending the night, the nighttime snacks of popcorn, homemade fudge and those small ice-cold bottles of Coca Cola. One of her cherished experiences was sleeping on one of her grown-up aunt’s beds in their bedroom upstairs. Dorothy was lulled to sleep by bedtime stories told by Big Mama. Then, the lights were quietly turned off and her grandparents settled into their beds across the hall for a long nap.
In the night, the wind would blow through the upstairs raised windows during those summer months and the sheer curtains would lap up to the ceiling like ghosts and the loud snores of Big Mama and Big Dad would frighteningly drift into where she was sleeping. She would be so afraid that she would cover her head with her magically protective blanket and pray to lose her hearing, at least temporarily. Luckily, she drifted off to sleep.
Dorothy was awakened the next morning by the great aromas coming up the stairway from the kitchen. Those of black coffee brewing, bacon, eggs, waffles….Big Mama’s specialty; biscuits and gravy being prepared. Big Dad would yell up the stairway to alert her that breakfast was ready. She would answer his call with “Coming” and could hardly wait to get her teeth brushed and find her seat at the kitchen table.
Big Mama was a believer in using appropriate decorations, candles and snacks in little clear crystal bowls. A tray of chocolate chip cookies and popcorn balls accompanied a session of listening to the radio and chats in the living room.
From all of the visits and finery that she was exposed to from Big Mama’s training at boarding school, she would learn how to entertain her family, friends, and children and begin the preparation of learning to be the most well-loved Mom and Nanny ever.
She learned her magic from raising four kids on a policeman’s salary and them never really wanting for anything. Mom and so many other police wives were absolute miracle workers. She soon learned what a lay-a-way plan was and how to use it in the most proficient manner possible for birthdays, back-to-school clothes, supplies and Christmas. Dorothy was an excellent manager, cook and baker and a wonderful seamstress. She raised her own kids and half of the neighborhood on whipped up meals and snacks. She was a great entertainment chairman. Picnics were a specialty that wives and the kids could throw something together and it was a fun day in the park, swinging on the big swing set, merry-go-around, and just playing.
Dorothy used all of these talents to entertain, guide and make her mark with each of her children and grandchildren. Her standard was based on patience, kindness, love, consideration and genuine concern in everything she did. She gave her time and listened intently and knew all of their likes and dislikes. There were those special spots in the pantry or jars on her kitchen counter that contained candies, snacks and goodies easily accessible to each of them. Each individual child felt so special. How many times a day did she hear “I love you, Nanny” and she always replied “I love you, too, baby”. They never got too big for her to enjoy hearing that or them saying it!
She had a great imagination that included those funny characters and voices such as “Mrs. Mouse” that lived on her grandfather clock and was delivered in her high-pitched, squeaky voice and often talked them out of a bad mood or a cry. Her toy closet was a rival to Toys R Us! There were stick and bucking horses, dolls, trucks, jump ropes and bull ropes, strollers, grocery carts, puzzles, books and more. She let them play for hours in her den and drag out everything in the toy closet. She never forgot what it had been like for her as a child to go to Big Mama’s and how special she made her feel. It was the same cherished feeling at Nanny’s. Love prevailed.
Grand kids and greats, all realized that Nanny was their own personal “Nanny” and got into “good natured” heated exchanges with Uncle Gill as to whose Nanny she really was. We all know she was everyone’s Nanny. Even kids outside the family claimed her, enjoyed her embraces and joined the common “spent” ownership of whose nanny she really was. No one was her favorite….but there were some distinctions and rights held by a few…..being first or maybe loved a little more than the rest for a moment, expressed but all done in fun. They still laugh about it. If nothing more, they could rely on being…..Papaw’s little girls or Papaw’s little boys, temporarily! Well, maybe one did have a little more influence over them by offering another scoop of Blue Bell, a pony ride, or a cold Dr. Pepper out of Skoodum’s drink box at Lander’s Store.
In a very sweet and appropriate note that appeared in Nanny’s gift last Christmas from one of the grand daughters, it puts all our thoughts and feelings into words and sends this wonderful, heartfelt message. She wrote “Merry Christmas to my Nanny. You are by far my greatest gift this Christmas. Your entire life has been a testament of what it means to love others well. You have always put everyone else first. Thank you for being the woman, wife, mother, grandmother and friend that you are. I love you more than words can ever say and my debt to you is eternal. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Love always, Blair Bear”
A personal note of appreciation and love is openly expressed to our dear sister and aunt, Kim, for her absolute total commitment, dedication, overseeing and management of Mom’s/Nanny’s wonderful care, the genuine gifts of the heart shared, expressed and so well delivered at the most necessary and appropriate time. May God bless her and let her know that she was the best when Mom/Nanny needed her most. Our love and respect is with you, Kim.
Gill, Monty, Melanie and Kim had the best mom ever! She was everything in their lives and they had no want or wish emotionally that she did not provide. She easily gave, loved, listened and cared. Her loving sensitivity was so well honed and genuine but she instilled respect and discipline at an early age and there was no doubt when those eyebrows disappeared into her bangs, that she meant business and there was no negotiation. When necessary, she could always threaten to summon Dad from work and that was the turning point and end to any discourse. They laugh as they remember and reflect on all the years shared with her. Joyously, each of them spent a lifetime celebrating with her and attempting to return the joy she so freely gave. Their hearts are heavy, their tears are falling, as they will miss her, celebrate her, hang on to those precious memories, and know by her own words that they will join her and see her again. They and we all look forward to that day. “Oh, what a glorious day that will be!”
Dorothy is survived by her four children: son, Gill Henson and wife Louise of Rockwall, son, Monty Henson of Weatherford, daughter, Melanie Bolin and husband Ricky of Sunnyvale, and daughter, Kim Henson of Mesquite.
She is also survived by her granddaughters: Paige Bolin Toberny of Mesquite, Holly Henson of Dallas, Blair Bolin Cullen and husband Lucas of Sunnyvale, grandsons: Cheyenne and Maverick Harper of Iowa, Louisiana; and great granddaughters: Shayne and River Cullen of Sunnyvale, Kessler Toberny of Mesquite and Lively Smith of Dallas.
Dorothy is also survived by her aunts, nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and so many good friends.
She is predeceased by her parents, her brother, her sister and her husband.
The family would like to acknowledge and thank her wonderful home caregivers that include: Gwen Robinson, Alma Garcia, Jackie Davis, Miracle Noble, Alicia Lee, Olga Nino, Yolanda Gordon and members of Heritage Hospice for their services and care shown throughout the years.
They would also like to thank the sweet caregivers on the second floor of the Mental Care Unit at Cambridge Court in Mesquite that were so kind, gentle, caring, loving and helpful.
Also, they want to thank the nurses and caregivers with Holding Hands Hospice for all you did to keep her clean, comfortable, and at ease…..especially in the last week.
Family visitation is Sunday, December 8, 2019 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
Her celebration of life and memorial service will be held Monday, December 9, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Hurst’s Fielder Baker Funeral Home, 107 N. Washington Street, Farmersville, Texas, just north of the town square. Inquiries can be made by calling the funeral home at (972) 782-6121.
Pallbearers are: Steve Davis, Pete Gay, Wayne May, Doug Patterson, Johnny Sargent and Steven Stroup.
Honorary pallbearers are Dorothy’s classmates and friends of her Farmersville High School Class of 1950.
Interment will follow at I.O.O.F. Cemetery in Farmersville.
She was a lifetime member of the Farmersville Ex-students Association.
Honorariums may be made to the UT Southwestern Medical Center – O’Donnell Brain Institute.
If you choose to send flowers, we refer you to the local florist: Carrie’s Floral Creations, 101 McKinney Street, Farmersville, TX 75442, phone: 972/784-7000, hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The family would like to thank you for the many acts of kindness and the love that we felt personally expressed by each of you. We love and appreciate everything you said, did and wrote to us. God’s blessings to each of you.