Frances Ellen Howell passed away on January 18, 2026, at the age of 83. She was born on March 25, 1942, to Grover “Joe Pete” Stuart and Flossie (Wagley) Stuart in Emory, Texas.
In 1959, Frances married George Thomas Plunk and they moved to Garland, Texas and had two children. Frances and Milton “Ray” got married on March 13, 1970, in Durant, Oklahoma and he had two kids making her the proud mother to four children. Frances and Ray made their home in Garland before moving to the Farmersville area in 1989 where Ray was originally from. Frances was a seamstress and handled many of the alterations for Austins Cleaners and many people in the Farmersville area. Aside from sewing, Frances loved gardening, and planting vegetables and growing flowers. She was a huge Texas Ranger fan.
She leaves behind her children, Tommy Howell and wife Charlene, Linda Bolen and her husband William “Bill”, Sherri Plunk, Sherry Davis and her husband Johnie, and like a daughter Joanne Vaillancourt. Frances is also survived by her 11 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren, and 7 great-great grandchildren. She is survived by her sister JoAnn Turman and many nieces and nephews.
Frances is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Milton “Ray” Howell, and her parents, “Joe Pete” and Flossie Stuart.
A Visitation will be held on Thursday, January 22, 2026, from 6-8pm at Hurst’s Fielder-Baker Funeral Home. The funeral service will be on Friday, January 23, at 10am at Hurst’s Fielder-Baker. Interment will follow the service at I.O.O.F Cemetery.