Celebration of the life of Mary Frances Keenan Averitt

My heart is heavy with sadness this week friends. My precious grandmother left us this past Sunday morning, February, 3, 2013. Super Bowl Sunday. Thankfully our Raven's won that night, making a very hard day have a silver lining. If you have been reading this blog for a while you know that Francie was a big part of my heart. We had the most wonderful visit in Memphis last May and she came to Stone Hill two times. I will cherish the videos I took of her for the rest of my days. She went back to the hospital last Thursday and was gone before we knew it. She was just ready, didn't suffer and was with her beloved niece Harriet who happened to be visiting that week for a routine visit. God's divine hand was in every second of this past  week. 

I arrived on Tuesday afternoon to help Harriet wrap up the details of Francie's apartment.  Harriet and my Daddy are like brother and sister. They grew up one block from each other in Memphis. Francie and Harriet's mother were sisters.  Even though we are cousins, I feel like we are more like aunt and niece. We laughed and cried, but laughed more than cried for sure. I insisted that we take pictures in her Go To Hell hats and set the camera self timer for this shot. It was just Dad, Harriet and me for dinner and we seriously had the best time. I can't recall a time ever where I had the pleasure of dining with my Dad and my godmother Harriet. We are always surrounded by so many family members. We laughed until we cried at dinner and I had to shush Daddy he got so loud. It was awesome. Laughter through tears is my favorite emotion...to quote Dolly Parton.

The service was held where Francie had been living the last three months where she could get more full time care. The chapel was the perfect location for the visitation and service. There was a comfort finding out it was Episcopalian and meeting the woman priest made me so happy. Knowing the service, the words going into something hard made it a touch more easy. Dad asked me to read Ecclesiastes 3:1-9 which I did miraculously after taking a huge deep breath. I lost it afterwards hearing our friend Bill Craddock read Psalm 23. 

The preacher was from Second Pres. and did a great job explaining that Frances is rejoicing in heaven. She taught me how to pray and was truly the most positive, light filled person you have ever met and he put an exclamation point on that fact. We sang Holy, Holy, Holy and Abide With Me. 

When we were at the cemetery I couldn't pay attention to a word that was being said. I just stared at this gorgeous tree the whole time thanking God that Francie and Granddaddy are partying it up with Jesus.

My grandparents were married for 67 years!

 

I loved getting to visit with Susan, Lucy, Will, Alex, Harriet and meeting so many of Francie and Granddaddy's friends I had heard about for years. Family really are the best part of funerals, plus the motorcycle cops leading to the cemetery. Mom wasn't able to make it but her brother's and many of my Tayloe cousins were also able to come. I had a great visit with Chip and Louise and stayed with them again. The Craddock's had a very small gathering for just family that evening for dinner that I'll post about separately. It was the best part of the week.

Dad telling stories with Will and Alex. 

Mac, Harriet, Dad and me at Memorial Park.

I got home safely on Thursday and it hit me that I can't just pick up the phone and speak to Francie anymore. Eric took me to Gertrude's for my surprise vegetarian birthday dinner and I cried remembering how much fun we had with her at the restaurant during the 2010 Thanksgiving weekend. I am so happy she didn't suffer, but I'm still sad. 

She is truly in every corner of my heart and our home. We have pot holders that were knit by her, quilts and blankets stitched with love, paintings and hand sewn embroidery hang on our walls. Plus every memory of trips to Disney, Destin and the lake. It just feels like the end of an era with her gone and I'm going to miss her like crazy.  

Harriet and Daddy, thank you for all you did this past week. Your plans made it easy for all of us to come together to mourn, laugh and visit in the short time we had together. For all who weren't able to join us, know you were missed and with us in spirit.

MARY FRANCES KEENAN AVERITT

Published: Commercial Appeal, The (Memphis, TN), February 5, 2013MARY FRANCES KEENAN AVERITT, 94, lifelong resident of Memphis, died early Sunday morning after a brief illness. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Richard Douglas Averitt, Jr., after 67 years of marriage. Frances was the youngest daughter of John and Bertha McWilliams Keenan. She attended Cummings Elementary School, Bellevue Junior High and Central High School. After attending Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Virginia, she married her childhood sweetheart and began a long and useful life as a homemaker, volunteer, and businesswoman. Mrs. Averitt was an active member at Second Presbyterian Church, where she was president of the Women of the Church, member of Martha and Mary Circle, a member of the choir, and circle devotional leader. Her PEO Chapter B was an important part of her life, as was her King's Daughters Circle. Mrs. Averitt was a member of Les Passees and served as chairwoman of the Cabaret in the early 1960's. After rearing her two sons, Mrs. Averitt started and ran Forty Carrots when Overton Square first opened. Upon retirement, Destin, Florida became a regular destination and the Averitt's cottage, "Averitt's Favorite", became a favorite gathering place for friends and family, thanks to Frances and Doug's generous hospitality. The Averitts resided at Town Village for several years and more recently Frances lived at Trezevant Terrace. Besides her husband and parents, she was predeceased by her youngest son, John Warren Averitt, and her sisters, Rosalie Keenan Watkins and Bertha Warren Keenan. She is survived by her son, Richard Douglas Averitt III, of Kalamazoo, MI; daughter-in-law, Susan Lange of New York City; grandchildren, Nelle and Eric Somerville, Mac and Elise Averitt and their son, Andrew McWilliams, and Lucy Averitt Lange; niece, Harriet Watkins Porter and her husband, Alex; great-nephews and their children, Christopher and Renee Porter, Will and Rosemary Porter, and Sam and Stephanie Porter. Having no family in Memphis, Frances was surrounded by a host of loving friends who became her family in every way. Frances was recently devoted to Lilly Rogers, her friend and helper in the past few months. Funeral services will be held at the chapel at Trezevant Manor on Highland at Waynoka, at 2 p.m., February 6, with a visitation at 1:30 p.m. in the chapel, and interment in Memorial Park immediately following. The Reverend Robin Hatzenbueler will officiate.Family Funeral Care (901)761-8000--------------

Copyright (c) 2013 The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN