Frances Lee Gilliland's Obituary
Frances Lee (Broyles) Gilliland, age 98, died on July 7, 2024. She passed away in her sleep at home in Fayetteville. She and her family lived in the house since shortly after her marriage in 1955.
Frances was preceded in death by her husband of over 50 years, James Monroe Gilliland; her parents, Edna and J. Arthur Broyles; and her brother, James Arthur Broyles.
She is survived by her children, Steve Gilliland, daughter-in-law Vyvyanne, and grandson Paul Gregory Gilliland of Hurricane, West Virginia; Jan Gilliland of Tampa, Florida; and Greg Gilliland of Austin, Texas.
Frances was born February 9, 1926, in her maternal grandmother’s house in Fayetteville. She grew up in Farmington, Arkansas. She was valedictorian of Farmington High School’s class of 1944. At the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, Frances was a Phi Beta Kappa scholar. After completing her bachelor’s degree in Spanish, she earned her master’s degree in English.
She taught at Elkins, and then at Fayetteville High School. Her subjects were English and drama. She also sponsored the Student Council. She helped found the first Arkansas chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary organization for women educators. In recent years, she was recognized as a Platinum Sister of ADK for 70 years of membership. She enjoyed her years teaching and was often warmly greeted by former students around town.
She was one of the last founding members of the Farmington Church of Christ. She recalled meeting in houses of members in the early days of the church, before the congregation moved into a regular church building.
Visitation will be 10:00 am – 11:00 am Saturday, July 13, 2024, at Moore’s Chapel. The funeral service will be 11:00 am Saturday following the visitation with burial to follow in Son’s Chapel Cemetery.
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