Frances “Fran” Watkins Beers
Frances “Fran” Watkins Beers was born in Venango, Nebraska, to Ross and Lillie Watkins. She is survived by her husband of seventy years, Bernie Beers; son Brad Beers (wife Kylene Neal); daughter Ellie Beers Moore (husband Mark); her grandchildren: Meredith Beers, Baker Beers, and John Moore; her sister BJ Weatherby and BJ’s husband Verne Nielson; and nephews and nieces. She is preceded in death by two of her children, Bentley Beers and Shari Beers, her parents, and her siblings Martha Jeanne, Barbara, Bill, and their spouses.
Fran grew up in Grant, Nebraska, where she met Bernie at the Juke Box Café, which her parents owned. Fran and Bernie were married on May 17, 1952. She was devoted to her children and grandchildren. Her grandchildren loved attending “Grandma and Grandpa Camp” each summer where Fran instilled a love of family. It wasn’t a family gathering unless Fran made her famous sour cream raisin pie, and Christmas wasn’t Christmas without her homemade cinnamon rolls and ham balls!
The Beers moved to Sulphur Springs, TX in 1967. While Fran’s first job was always raising her four children, she also found time to work at her church, First United Methodist Church (FUMC) for many years. One of her joys was owning the Family Entertainment Center with Bernie, which had a bowling alley, skating rink, arcade, putt-putt golf, and ice cream parlor.
At FUMC Fran served in many capacities from directing the junior choir to visiting shut-ins. She was also involved with the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts of America, a PTA President, and Chairman of a Red Cross Drive. She enjoyed volunteering with the Hopkins County Museum and Heritage Park, and serving as PEO President. In her spare time, Fran was an avid and talented knitter, crocheter, and tatter.
For the past three and a half years, Fran was a resident at Wesley Oaks Memory Care. The family is grateful to the staff for their devoted and thoughtful care of her, along with her Hospice team.
Fran’s wonderful life, which began August 19, 1934, and ended September 21, 2022, will be celebrated at First United Methodist Church in Sulphur Springs, TX on Saturday, October 22, 2022, at 3 PM with a reception immediately following. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Fran’s name to Sulphur Springs FUMC Sulphur or to the Hopkins County Museum and Heritage Park.