Frankie Mae Watts

Frankie Mae Watts, maiden name Dudley, was called home to meet her Heavenly Father Thursday, February 25, 2021, from her home in Mineral Wells, TX. Her loved ones held her hands as she made her final transition into the realm of angels.

Frankie was born on a Sunday, in Lorenzo, Texas, to Lola and John Dudley. The date was April 19, 1936. In a time of peace and hope for a country rebuilding from the Great Depression, and yet untouched by a second World War, Frankie entered the world at what would soon become her childhood home on the Llano Estacado, near the Caprock, in Crosby County. From the moment her eyes fluttered open, Frankie shown to all that knew her like a ray of West Texas sunshine, and through her love, faith, and perseverance, made the world a better and more beautiful place for the next 84 years. 

Fankie’s mother, Lola, held a church service at their family home where the preacher was Grace Watts, Orvan’s mother. During a church gathering, the women’s daughter and son began a love story that would last 56 years. During a Secret Santa gathering, Orvan was unable to bring a gift, and so was ineligible to receive one. When Frankie saw he was without a present, she broke her gift of a four-square block of clay in half to share with him. After a short courtship,  Frankie Dudley took Orvan Watts as husband on a warm spring day, May 17, 1952.

It is impossible to sum up such a long and robust life in a few short paragraphs, but what must be said about Frankie is that her optimism outweighed the challenges that were handed her. In the never fading crescent of her smile her family found strength, joy, comfort and healing. She was a mother, a grandmother, a great grandmother, and a great great grandmother, and she wore these blessing of age like so many pearls. 

For many years Frankie worked as a professional seamstress and served as a municipal court judge. She loved the outdoors where she was at home with her hands in the soil, making the land bloom. A self-proclaimed “rock hound,” she collected stones, some of which she turned into jewelry for the littles ones, who filled their pockets with her treasures. She enjoyed playing Bingo with her daughter Lewana, and telling family stories to her grand babies 

Frankie Mae Watts is preceded in death by her Mother Lola Dudley; her Father John Dudley; her Husband Orvan Watts; her Daughter Gayla Shivers; her Granddaughters Jennifer Watts, Stephanie Watts and Carla Hite; and her Great Granddaughter Erin Hite.

She is survived by her children Joe Watts and his wife Kathy, and Lewana Jones and her spouse Roy; her Grandchildren Ory Wiggins, Tina Monzon, Larry Shivers and Levi McFarland; her Great Grandchildren Alyssa Wiggins, Taylor Wiggins, Hannah Wiggins, Oscar Monzon, Katheryn Monzon, Tina Monzon, Jason Hite, Jordan Hite, Abigail Shivers, Grace Shivers and Tachi'Bah Shivers; and her Great Great Grandchildren Adelaide Lingle, Delilah Wiggins And Kade Tincher.

The family invites you to an at will visitation, to be held at Baum Carlock Bumgardner in Mineral Wells, TX, on Monday, March 1.  Please, come at your convenience. 

Services will be held graveside at Woodland Park Cemetery in Mineral Wells, TX, March 2, at 2pm. They will be performed by her brother-in-law Larry Watts.