Tributes

Born in July 1950, Frances Marilyn Timmins grew up in the suburbs of Houston, Texas and began her history of making lifelong friends. She attended Jennie Katherine Kolter Elementary named afer a victim of the first known school domestic terrorism attack. She graduated from Bellaire High School and went on to obtain a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees in special education which she used in underserved communities. She became proficient in sign language, built adaptive furniture for multi-handicapped kids in a project called Heartwood, and in a related field apprenticed with a chip carver of decorative wood. Frances translated textbooks into Braille. Subsequently, as a licensed social worker, she maintained a private practice for many years focused in the LGBT community. She was always caring and had a can-do attitude, a creative mind and a helping hand. Adventurous and courageous by nature she loved to travel; she spent a year in Europe afer college and a lifetime covering most if not all of the US and Canada. At various times she lived in Texas, Michigan, Colorado and Alaska —in each place she made friends who are still with her today. She finally settled in San Antonio where she lived the rest of her life.. As a child she always wanted to be in the circus. And so she found the time and had the inclination and ability to learn to ride a unicycle and juggle; she would ofen entertain us with her skills. Frances was a fond collector of antique cooking ware and tools, loved large lamps from the 50s and animal figurines but only if they had happy faces! Art and artisanal works in her home were ofen done by people whom she knew. She valued her friendships highly. She and two of her closest friends, whose birthdays were all in July, planned large annual parties that spanned over many years raising funds for charitable projects close to their hearts. She is predeceased by her parents Dan and Barbara Timmins and survived by her Aunt Marilyn McRae, sister Juli Montgomery and her brother, also named Dan Timmins and his wife Margo Timmins, her life partner Linda Eckhardt, nieces Logan and Graysan Timmins, grand nephew Nolan, cousins Chris and Barbara Timmins and others and by many friends who have felt her loss deeply. A gathering of family and friends will be held for Frances and in that time and place we will remember her, tell our stories and think of those who could not attend. We are hopeful, all of us, to meet again. Love is not lost. A donation in her name to a charity of your choice would make her heart happy.

Tributes

Frances Marilyn Timmins

July 16, 1950 - October 18, 2019