Frances Ellender Hendricks Lawrence was born on July 22, 1923. She went to be with the Lord on April 6, 2026, at the age of 102 after a short illness.
Frances married Ernest Lloyd Lawrence when she turned 18 in 1941. They had grown up as neighbors and would form a lifelong partnership built on church, family and fun.
Ernest, who passed away in 2004, enrolled in the Navy Marine Corps and was briefly stationed in Dallas before being transferred to a Naval base near Oxnard, Calif. He served out World War II in Guam, where he was commissioned to open a watch repair shop on base.
While Ernest was away, Frances moved back home with her parents, L Dow Hendricks and Mary Alma Powell Hendricks. Ernest & Frances' son, Larry, was a baby at the time. Larry's sister, Marilyn Lawrence Mosley, was born in the summer of 1948.
Larry and Marilyn were the center of Ernest and Frances' universe, and the family spent much of their time at First Baptist McKinney, which was then located downtown. Frances would become the church secretary in 1956 and serve 24 years under four different pastors. She was honored in recent years for being the oldest living member of FBC McKinney, having joined at the age of 6 in 1929.
Former pastors such as Dr. Bailey Stone became lifelong friends with Ernest and Frances. The same could be said for former music minister Tommy Lyons and his wife, Charlotte.
Frances had a profound impact on the staff, but in 1980 she decided to focus full-time on helping Ernest at his longtime business on the square, Lawrence Jewelry.
Marilyn and Larry's children would spend part of their summers at the store while dining at the old McKinney Burger Company and the McKinney Opera House. Grandmommie and Granddaddy, as they were called, also loved taking the grandchildren swimming at Hurricane Creek Country Club in Anna, where the day would end with peel-and-eat shrimp in the dining room.
Generations of McKinney residents registered for weddings at Lawrence Jewelry. Frances' expertise in bookkeeping was the perfect complement to Ernest's expert watchmaking.
Frances loved eating Tex-Mex with her family in McKinney or Dallas. The constant theme of her life revolved around family. Only death could keep her away from a Hendricks reunion.
We already miss her very much, but we rejoice she can be reunited in Heaven with her parents, husband and her beloved siblings: Polly Hendricks, Gwen Hendricks Williams and Wesley Hendricks. Even at 102, she had an amazing recall about her siblings and their many aunts, uncles and cousins. In recent years, she was present to see her Uncle Mays honored as a World War II hero. She also attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new L. Dow Hendricks Elementary School in Anna. Her father was a longtime teacher and superintendent in Collin County.
She is survived by her youngest sibling, Don Cook Hendricks (Charlotte) and her sister, Mary Dow Hendricks Wright, whose late husband Harry was beloved by all. It is a remarkable family that was built on faith and education.
Frances is survived by her grandchildren Laura Lawrence Gunn (Jeff), Jeff Byrd (Tracey), Matt Mosley (Meredith), Mandy Mosley Logsdon (Joseph) and Chris Lawrence.
Her great grandchildren are Ashley Byrd, Devin Byrd, John Andrew Logsdon, Parker Mosley, Millie Logsdon, Tanner Lawrence, Mary Lively Logsdon and Eddie Gunn.
Frances enjoyed a unique relationship with Marilyn's husband, John Mosley, who became one of her closest friends. She also enjoyed spending time with Larry's late wife, Voncille.
Frances loved her nieces and nephews: Lisa Wright Gorman, Becky Wright Miller, Vernon Wright, Don Wright, Melinda Williams McBee, Steve Williams, Margaret Hendricks Collins, Nena Wise, LaDonna Hendricks Carroll, Tracy Hendricks, the late Eddie Vanlandingham and the late Debbie Vest.
Frances outlived most of her contemporaries, but she had friends from every generation. Her favorite holiday was Christmas, and the memories of her house on Louisiana Street are etched in our memories forever. Even after having her for 102 years, we knew it was never going to be quite enough time.
The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at VITAS hospice at Carrollton Regional Medical Center for their excellent care and kindness. We'd especially like to thank Dr. Billy Boring Jr. and his wife Michelle for their expert care and support.
Donations can be made to the senior adult ministry at First Baptist Church McKinney, 1615 West Louisiana Street, McKinney, Texas 75069.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, April 9, 2026 at First Baptist Church McKinney. Interment will be held at Highland Cemetery in Melissa, Texas following the service.
The family will receive friends during a visitation one hour prior to the service at the church.