Mary Frances Hughes

Mary Frances (Hendrickson) Hughes, age 92, passed peacefully away on Monday, October 6, 2025 in Dallas, Texas. Within her long life, she was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Frances loved to create beauty in life, and her legacy will leave marks of beauty in the hearts and memories of her loved ones.

Frances began her life on Wednesday, October 12, 1932, in the small community of Hiwasse, Arkansas between Gravette and Bentonville. She was born to her parents, Rev. Myron Monte and Pauline M. Hendrickson. Along with her older brother, Myron Monte, Jr. who everyone called "Sonny," Frances moved with her family to Dallas, Texas in 1935. Growing up, Frances spent most Sundays in attendance at Walnut Hill Assembly of God Church, where her father was a pastor, and later at Bethel Temple Assembly of God Church. She graduated from Crozier Tech High School (later known as Dallas High School) where she studied cosmetology. Little would she know that her faith and her skills would be put to work in the place she least expected-a funeral home.

It was at a church event where the Lord brought together Frances with her future husband, Ronald Hughes. They soon married on February 26, 1954 in Rockwall, Texas. Together, Frances and Ronald had four children: Rhonda, Ronald Jr., Ronna, and DeWayne. Frances was a loving mother to her children and made sure they were well taken care of. When she wasn't filling her home with love and caring for her family, she extended her care and compassion to the funeral home where she did hair and makeup of loved ones. Unlike other funeral professionals who focus on just the "viewing side," Frances took pride in perfecting hair styles in the front and the back, believing that everyone should look their absolute best for their funeral.

However, Frances's love of beauty didn't just stop at hairstyles and cosmetics. She was an avid gardener who created beautiful flower gardens throughout her front and back yards. Her choice of colorful flowers and precise designs quickly made her gardens the envy of her neighborhood. While she planted flowers of all sorts, tulips were by far Frances's favorite type of flower. You would find her throughout the year at garden nurseries where she would pick the best flowers and plants to decorate her gardens. Her gardens weren't the only thing that was immaculate. Frances's yard, sidewalks, driveway, and even the alley behind her house were kept in pristine condition. Every morning, she would go out and sweep leaves or rake leaves from the premise. She talked about her battle against leaves like a general discussing a longstanding war against a tiresome foe. Even during the heat of the summer, Frances was always tending to her garden, lawn, and walkways with extreme care.

Just as she had her usual habits and schedules as she tended her garden, Frances seemed to live her life on set habits. Every weekday was assigned a certain restaurant to go to. She would usually request her usual table and be sat by her usual server. Her name and preferences became commonplace throughout these many establishments where people would know her order even before she sat down. Frances developed many friendships with the people she encountered frequently throughout her visits from staff members to other regular customers. Her life of habit took a turn when her husband, Ronald Sr., began having dementia. However even then, Frances took on caring for him with diligence, care, and concern. She was his caretaker until he passed away on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, 2011. They were married for 56 years which were filled with love and dedication.

After the passing of her beloved husband, Frances continued to work in her garden, keep in touch with her children and grandchildren, and visit her favorite restaurants. She would frequently visit her children whether they were at their homes or at their place of work in her Jaguar. When she wasn't able to drive any longer due to dementia, she enjoyed getting visits from her children and grandchildren at her home which was filled with the same nostalgia as many years prior. Her heart and her home seemed to always be filled with warmth and love. In her passing, her family holds on to the many memories of love and beauty that Frances provided.

Mary Frances Hughes is survived by her children, Rhonda C. Montee and her husband Jim, Ronald W. Hughes, Jr and his wife Penny, Ronna M. McAuley and her husband Barney, DeWayne D. Hughes and his wife Stephanie; her grandchildren, Krista Wilson, Joesph Milo and his wife Kristin Brianne, Megan Wilson, Chelsea Langford and her husband Ronny, Nicholas Milo and his wife Julie, Ryan Hughes and his wife Kristine, Tyler Montee and his wife Kayla, Lauren Hughes, Logan Hodges and his wife Rylee, Christen and his wife Kristina Spain, Amanda McVay, Cameron McVay, Preston Montee and his wife Olga, and Lance Montee and his wife Tammy; and great grandchildren; Weston, Claire, Pepper, Carter, Carson, Penelope, Wesley, Wren, Elliott, Hilton and Hendyn; and many other loving family and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ronald Wesley Hughes, Sr.; her parents, Rev. Myron Monte and Pauline M. Hendrickson; her brother, Myron Monte "Sonny" Hendrickson; and her granddaughter, Cynthia Wilson.