Frances Jean Fowler Terry

Frances Jean Fowler Terry's life was a portrait of love, grace, and purpose. Born on May 5, 1940, in Waco, Texas, to John Henry and Clarie McCall Fowler, she was nurtured in a home filled with warmth, faith, and the enduring values of hard work and kindness. From a young age, Frances exhibited a strong sense of independence and an eager curiosity about the world around her qualities that would define her life's journey.
She received her early education in Austin, Texas, where her intelligence and leadership quickly set her apart. During her years at L.C. Anderson High School, Frances excelled academically and served as Secretary of the National Honor Society. Upon graduating in 1958, she stood ready to embrace a world of new opportunities, guided by faith and determination.
Frances began her professional career at The Cadeau, where she worked diligently for five years and developed a strong foundation in administration and service. Her ambition and love for learning soon inspired her to pursue higher education, and in 1968 she proudly earned her degree in Administration from Nixon Clay College. That same year marked the beginning of her lifelong calling her distinguished and faithful service at The University of Texas at Austin.
At UT Austin, Frances began as a Senior Secretary in the Department of Folklore, where her professionalism, warmth, and meticulous attention to detail quickly earned her the respect of faculty and students alike. Over the decades, she served in multiple departments including Anthropology, Interdisciplinary Liberal Arts, and British Studies becoming a trusted colleague, mentor, and friend to many. Her influence extended far beyond her duties; Frances built relationships grounded in kindness, integrity, and mentorship, leaving an indelible mark on generations of students and staff.
Though she officially retired in 2002, her dedication to the university called her back soon after. She continued to serve faithfully until 2019, marking more than 50 years of devoted service to the University of Texas at Austin. Her legacy remains one of excellence, quiet strength, and unwavering grace a reflection of a woman who gave her best in every season of life.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Frances's greatest joy was her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend whose love knew no limits. She married Tony Terry, Sr., and together they built a family rooted in faith, unity, and perseverance. Frances's heart overflowed with love for her children: William McKinley Lee III (deceased), Terrance Andre Terry, Tony Terry Jr. (Cheryl), Shirley Ann Terry, Susie Ann Terry, and Mark Anthony Terry.
She instilled in them the same values that guided her own life education, hard work, compassion, and faith. Her nurturing spirit extended to her 17 grandchildren, 33 great-grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren, her sister-in-law Rosa Washington, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends each of whom held a special place in her heart.
Frances shared an especially close bond with her siblings: Elizabeth Williams, Charles Williams (Carla), Gaylord Williams (deceased), Janis Ansley, Harvey Williams (Ysmenia), Ida Nell Banks, and Diana Fowler-Burton, who will forever cherish her wisdom, humor, and gentle strength.
She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Tony Terry, Sr.; her parents, John Henry Fowler and Clarie McCall Williams; her son, William McKinley Lee III; her brothers, John Henry "Butch" Fowler and Gaylord Williams; and her dear cousin, Roosevelt Whattley.
Frances's life was a testament to faith and perseverance. She carried herself with quiet dignity and unshakable grace, always choosing kindness and excellence in all she did. Her faith was her compass, and she lived by the belief that service to others is the truest expression of love. Those who knew her will remember her gentle spirit, her laughter, her wisdom, and her steadfast commitment to family and community including her role in establishing the Terry Juneteenth Celebration, which she took immense pride in.
Her journey touched countless lives students who found encouragement in her words, colleagues who admired her dedication, and family members who drew strength from her example. To know Frances was to know light, steadiness, and peace.
As we celebrate her remarkable life, we honor a woman who lived with purpose, worked with passion, and loved without limits. Though she has transitioned from this life, her influence continues in the hearts she nurtured, the family she raised, and the legacy of faith and excellence she leaves behind.