Frances W. Dearing

Frances W. Dearing, age 90, of Manhattan, Kansas, died Friday afternoon, November 4, 2011, at Meadowlark Hills-Lyle House in Manhattan.

She was born on August 27, 1921, in Waynoka, Oklahoma, the daughter of William Thomas and Belva Elizabeth (Norris) Moore. Her father died tragically two weeks prior to her birth so following her birth they went to live with her grandmother. Her mother preceded her in death when Frances was 9 years old. She was raised in the Waynoka area and later moved to Pasadena, California for one year where she graduated from high school at the junior college in 1939. Following her high school graduation she returned to Oklahoma where she attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University for one year.

While at college she met her future husband, Loy Clark Dearing, and they were united in marriage on March 23, 1940, in Cheyenne, Oklahoma. They made their home in several Oklahoma communities for the next ten years as Loy taught school. In 1950, they moved to Wichita, Kansas where Frances went to work in various capacities, first for Boeing and later for Cessna. She later drove a school bus for 10 years. While in Wichita, they were members of Midway Baptist Church.

Mrs. Dearing was active in 4-H and was a former 4-H leader in the Sedgwick county area. She was also active with Gideon’s and served as a state officer for three years with the Gideon’s Auxiliary. Mrs. Dearing also served alongside her husband with the Wichita Union Rescue Mission and together they ministered to numerous foster children. Helping those who were down in life or going through a difficult time was their mission in life.

In 1999, they moved to Little Rock, Arkansas where Mr. Dearing would precede her in death on July 11, 2000.

In 2001, Mrs. Dearing returned to Wichita and became the Director of the Agape House. In January of 2003, she moved to Manhattan to make her home. Upon moving to Manhattan she joined Emmanuel Baptist Church and later Grace Baptist Church.

She is survived by five children: Frances Lana Brooks and her husband, Ron, of Little Rock, Arkansas, Larry C. Dearing and his wife, Bonny, of Monument, Colorado, Beverly Ann Richardson and her husband, Ralph, of Manhattan, Kansas, Belva Lynn Heikes and her husband, Henry, of Ft. Sumner, New Mexico and Roger A. Dearing and his wife, Becky, of Greeley, Colorado. She is also survived by her sister: Mary Anna Lee Hinderliter of Woodward, Oklahoma, 13 grandchildren, 31 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. Preceding her in death were granddaughter, Jean Ann Heikes Gammill and grandson, Mark Loy Heikes.

The family will receive friends during a visitation from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. Thursday, November 10th, at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home in Manhattan.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 11th, at the Midway Baptist Church, 5135 S. Broadway, Wichita, Kansas. Viewing will be available 30 minutes prior to the service.

Graveside services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, November 12th at the Memorial Hills Cemetery in Waynoka, Oklahoma. Viewing will be available 30 minutes prior to the service.

Additional services will be held during a memorial service at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, November 13th, at the Grace Baptist Church, 2901 Dickens Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas

Memorials may be made to Gideon’s International. Contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan, Kansas 66502 which is handling the Manhattan arrangements or the Smith Mortuary, 1415 North Rock Road, Derby, Kansas 67037 which is handling the Wichita and Oklahoma services.

On-line condolences may be left for the family through the funeral home websites located at www.ymlfuneralhome.com. or www.smithfamilymortuaries.com.