Griffin/Saunders Family of Knocknaboley Wicklow

Frances' Obituary, Brownsville Herald, April 7, 2010.

Frances Merrill McCabe Bearden, 96, of Houston, Texas passed away peacefully in her home on Good Friday, April 2, 2010. She was born Aug 17, 1913 in Larimore, North Dakota to the late Frank and Dolores McCabe. Her kindness and grace touched the lives of all who knew and loved her. She will be deeply missed.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Kermit; and her two brothers Eugene and Vincent; two sons, Donald and Francis Lee, three grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Frances is survived by five children: Dolores Parks and husband Joseph of Houston, TX; Mary Claire Zelazny of Fort Worth, TX; Gene Bearden of Tomball, TX; Emmett Bearden and wife Brenda of Crosby, TX; and Bill Bearden and wife Barbara of Overland Park, KS. She is also survived by 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild.

Her family moved to south Texas in 1918 to Rio Hondo. Frances graduated from Rio Hondo High School at age 16. She married the late Kermit Bearden in 1938 and they lived together in Brownsville, TX for 40 years where they raised their family. They relocated to Victoria TX in 1991. They were married 53 years. Following Kermit's death in 1991, Frances relocated to Houston where she lived with her daughter, Dolores. Frances was an active member of St. Theresa Catholic Church, and loved to visit with her friends and play bingo with the Seniors Group.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fr. Bill Pickard Scholarship Fund in Frances' memory; c/o St. Theresa Catholic Church, 6622 Haskell, Houston, TX 77007 or the charity of your choice.

Visitation and rosary will be held from 6-8 p.m., Wednesday April 7, Houston Chapel, 501 E. 18th ST., Houston, TX 77008.

Funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday April 8, 2010, at St Theresa Catholic Church, 6622 Haskell, Houston, TX 77007. Reception will be held in the Community Center, 2nd floor.

Interment will be held Friday, April 9, 2010, at Mont Meta Memorial Park in San Benito, TX.