Frances Rasco

Frances spent her childhood in Oklahoma and Arkansas, learning the history of the tribes of Oklahoma, how to make a bow and arrow, and how to twirl a baton.  Frances attended the Texas State College for Women (now Texas Women's University), where she received her teaching certificate and met her soon to be husband, Bill.  After Bill signed up to serve in the Air Force during the Korean War, they moved to the territory of Alaska, where Frances worked for the Alaska Agricultural Extension Agency, writing a newsletter and helping homesteaders, and giving birth to her first child, while Bill served his country. She loved the Northern Lights; enjoyed learning about the Alaskan native culture and delighted in her many encounters with Arctic wildlife.

While the thought of homesteading had its appeal, Bill and Frances decided they would rather raise their family in a warmer clime, and eventually made their way to Dallas where they had their second child.  Once their girls were in school, Frances began substitute teaching.  She eventually secured a job teaching home economics at Seagoville High School. During that time, she earned her masters in Liberal Arts from Southern Methodist University, where she enjoyed learning about the book arts.  After retirement, she served as a Guardian Ad Litem, helping battered women navigate the court system.

She also helped with Texas voter registration.  She and Bill enjoyed many travel adventures, together and with friends from their church of many years, First United Methodist Church of Mesquite.  She taught her children and many students the value of learning for its own sake; how to work hard, how to "use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without", stand up for justice, be a good neighbor, and love and care for the earth and all its creatures.  She will be dearly missed.  A special thanks to friends at First UMC of Mesquite, DACED, the Pretty Good Singers and especially her wonderful neighbors for their many kindnesses.

Preceded in death by her husband and two sisters, she is survived by her daughters, Tanda Rasco of Dallas and Teresa Rasco (husband Bob and daughter Lily) of North Carolina, as well as many nephews and nieces.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the League of Women Voters, the local Food Bank, the Visiting Nurses Assoc. of Texas, or the Texas Democratic Party.