Frances “Fran” Jean Ledbetter was born on May 10, 1929, in Clinton, Oklahoma. She is the second of five children born to Grace and John Ledbetter. In 1943 they moved to McKinney. After graduating from McKinney Boyd High School in 1947, Fran went to work for Lone Star Gas as a cashier. Fran and her husband of 68 years, Felix, met on a blind date. It was love at first sight. In 1950 when they were about to be married Felix was drafted into the Army and the wedding was postponed. Over the next 23 months Felix was in California, Japan, and Korea while Fran worked at the VA hospital. When the Korean war came to an end they were married on November 28, 1952. During the first years of their marriage, she went to work for a textile mill doing bookkeeping. In 1957 their first son Felix Hearne II was born, and Fran became a stay-at-home mom. In 1960 their second son Van Hampton was born. Their family is one of the few original McKinney-ites.
During the time the boys were growing up Fran enjoyed being home with them, playing bridge, and was active in Owl Forum. Fran and Felix enjoyed 68 years of marriage before Felix passed on April 1, 2020. Over the years they had good times and not-so-good times. In 1994, their oldest son Hearne passed away. They enjoyed over 15 years at Lake Texoma where they spent weekends and summers fishing, skiing, and parties with many friends and family. They enjoyed travelling and went on 25 cruises, their favorite being one to Alaska and one with their son Van, daughter in law and three granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her parents John Hampton Ledbetter and Grace Stokes Ledbetter, her husband, Felix Hearne Smith, her son Felix Hearne Smith II, her siblings John “Jack” Hampton Ledbetter, Mary Lou Ledbetter Ereckson, and Fern Ledbetter Reed.
Fran was a loving, generous, caring mom, grandma, and friend. She was gracious and never said a bad word about anyone. She will be deeply missed. She is survived by her son Van Hampton Smith and wife Deanna, her granddaughters Michelle Smith and husband Joel, Victoria Hauer and husband Ward, Shannon Hearne Smith and partner Tate. She is also survived by her three great grandchildren Wyatt Hauer, Georgia Hearne Johnson and Sean Hampton Smith as well as her brother Patrick Ledbetter and wife Rhonda and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and many friends.
A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Sunday, October 23, 2022 at Ridgeview Memorial Park in Allen, Texas. Family and friends are invited to Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home at their convenience from Saturday, October 22 at 1:00 p.m. until Sunday, October 23 at 1:00 p.m. to pay their respects and to sign the register book.