Dr. Frances Thompson

Thompson, Dr. Frances Ann McBroom 71, of Dallas passed away April 23, 2014, gracefully ending her 10-year battle with cancer. She was born in Brownwood October 25, 1942 to Alexander Moreland McBroom and Myrtle Marie Huff McBroom. Frances graduated from Brownwood High School in 1960, and from Abilene Christian University (cum laude, 1963). She received a Master's degree in Mathematics from the University of Texas at Austin (1967) and the Doctor of Education degree from the University of Georgia (Math Ed, 1973). A devoted Christian, Frances taught children's and women's Bible classes throughout her life. She authored several Bible study and teaching manuals, including the GOD'S ETERNAL WORD series for junior high and BIBLE WARM-UPS FOR ADULTS & TEENS. Frances did mission work in Canada and Venezuela, and at the time of her death was a Trustee of the mission-supporting White Rock Fund. A nationally-recognized mathematics educator, Dr. Thompson taught math at the junior high and high school as well as undergraduate and graduate college levels. She also served as a math education consultant with State Education Service Agencies in Georgia and Texas (Dallas area Region 10). She retired in 2009 as Full Professor from Texas Woman's University in Denton after 26 years. She received the Grover C. Morland Award for Outstanding Teaching and the Distinguished Alumni Citation from ACU, and TWU's Distinguished Service Award and Mary Mason Lyon Award for Excellence in Teaching, Research and Service. Frances was the author of numerous mathematics textbooks for all grade levels, including the 3-book all-grades MATH ESSENTIALS series. She wrote several teacher aid manuals, including the FIVE-MINUTE CHALLENGES series and ALGEBRA TEACHER'S ACTIVITIES-A-DAY. She both wrote and illustrated the children's storybook MISS CIRCO COMES APART AT THE SEAMS, to help parents teach geometry concepts to preschoolers. Dr. Thompson also published many articles in professional journals and lectured regularly at state and national professional conferences. Frances was preceded in death by her parents, Alex and Myrtle McBroom of Brownwood, and her beloved niece Diana Gay Woodward. She is survived by her husband, best friend and soul mate of 47 years, Claude Thompson of Dallas; sons Landon Hayes Thompson and wife Shilo of Cisco, and Brooks Caleb Thompson of Dallas; grandsons Jonathan and Nicholas Thompson of Cisco; sisters Ethel Marie Gay of Brownwood and Martha Jane ("Marty") Ketchersid of Abilene; nephew Jeremy Ketchersid and wife Crissy of Carrollton, and nieces Keli Stewart and husband Murry of Kearney, MO, Karyn MacBrock of Abilene, and Sara Burnette and husband Jack of Aubrey. The family thanks Dr. Jairo Olivares and the staff of Texas Oncology of Garland for their decade of quality care and service. Gifts in memory of Frances Thompson may be made to the White Rock Fund (P.O. Box 180274, Dallas, TX 75218) or Texas Woman's University/Harlan C. Miller Scholarship Fund (P.O. Box 425618, Denton, TX 76204-4256).