Frances Benz

Fran Benz, 91, passed away Monday, July 19, 2021, in Hewitt, Texas, after a long battle with cancer.

A Celebration of her Life will be at First Baptist Church, 301 1st Street, Hewitt, on Friday, July 23 at 10 AM with a Reception following. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Thursday at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd., Waco.

Frances Nell Perkins was born near San Saba, TX on November 1, 1929, the sixth of eight children of Wiley Earl Perkins and Rachel Elizabeth Hellums Perkins. She grew up in the Mulberry Canyon area south of Merkel, TX and graduated Valedictorian from Merkel High School. Fran graduated from Hendrick Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Abilene in 1949.

She married Merrill Edwin “Shorty” Benz in Noodle, TX on February 26, 1950, and the couple purchased a small farm near Clyde, TX the following year. They had three children. The family lived in Abilene from 1963 through 1982, after which they returned to Clyde until Shorty’s death in September of 2003. Fran then moved to Hewitt.

Fran’s life was devoted to her Lord Jesus and to her family, living her life in service to others and marked by generosity. Her nursing career spanned over 35 years, mostly at Hendrick Memorial Hospital in Abilene and the Abilene State School. She taught Bible studies for 60 years in churches in Clyde, Abilene, and Hewitt.

Preceded in death by her husband, her parents, and her seven siblings, Fran is survived by three children and five grandchildren: son, Merrill Andrew Benz and wife Dona; daughter, Elizabeth Dianne Guerra and husband Carlos; son, David Edwin Benz; granddaughter, Rachel Benz Jones and husband Brad of Burnet TX; grandson, Timothy Benz and wife, Serena; granddaughter, Sarah Guerra Guess and husband Adam; granddaughter, Angela Guerra Rothe and husband Dan; and grandson, Carlos Guerra and wife Kristen currently of Chang Mai, Thailand. She is also survived by 11 great-grandchildren.

Fran loved flowers and such expressions are welcomed. In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial gift for the church planting ministry of grandson Carlos in Thailand. Just go to: https://aminternational.thankyou4caring.org/ami/giving/staff/G-K and select “Guerra, C&K” from the menu. Regular address is: Antioch Ministries International, 505 N. 20th, Waco, TX 76707.

Visitation in Clyde will be 9 am – 10 am Monday, July 26, at the Bailey-Howard Funeral Home. The interment will follow in Clyde Cemetery with a brief graveside service. Afterwards, there will be a reception at the First Baptist Church in Clyde.

Sign the online Guestbook at www.oakcrestwaco.com