After a life of love and quiet grace, Janet Kay Francis of Bells, TX has passed.
These few paragraphs cannot hold a life, but they may carry a memory.
Janet held deeply to the Methodist faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew her best.
Those who live by belief leave a different kind of mark.
Janet Kay Francis passed away peacefully at her home in Bells, Texas on April 29, 2026 at the age of 81. She was born on November 5, 1944 to Sydney Clarence "S.C." Rino and Imogene (Head) in Dallas, Texas. She graduated from Savoy High School and went on to earn both a Bachelor's Degree at The University of North Texas and a Master's Degree at East Texas State, Commerce.
Janet was 18 years old when she met Don Francis at Mable's Dairy Queen in Bells in 1962, They were married on June 4, 1966 in Savoy, Texas.
Janet taught Home Economics in Savoy schools for 25 years, teaching four generations of Savoy students. She was devoted to her church home Bells,First United Methodist Church. She played coed volleyball in competition with other Methodist churches, with her friends and family. She took part in United Methodist Women, by organizing food trains to provide meals for member's families who had passed, and helped with bazaars to raise money and awareness for missions. She was faithful in attendance and ministry of the church.
Janet was an excellent scrabble player, and she really enjoyed Friday night family dinners and game nights. She was an excellent seamstress. Janet was a devoted wife and took wonderful care of Don; spoiled him with fried chicken and made his birthdays special with homemade banana ice cream.
She was preceded in death by her parents, S.C. and Imogene Rino.
She is survived by her husband, Don Francis of Bells; her son, Jeff Francis and wife Tammy Denise of Savoy; and their children, Kimberly Francis of Savoy, Christina Whitlow and husband Joshua and their children Ambrose and Ophelia of Savoy, and Brittney Dyer and husband Sidney, one on the way, Colt Waylon of Savoy. She's also survived by her daughter, Donna Francis with her beloved granddogs, Toby, Bridgette, and Ruby Rose; her grandcats, George and Phoebe of Savoy; her son, Scott Francis and wife Tammy Sue of Frisco, and their children, Sidney and Daniel; and her cherished cat, Callie. And she is survived by her special friends, Virgie Burnett, Rudene Langner, and Dolores Pell.
Visitation will be Friday, May 8, 2026 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Mullican Little Funeral Home 754 State Hwy 56 E. Bells, Texas 75414. Funeral services will be on Saturday, May 9, 2026 at 11:00 AM at Mullican Little Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Sunnyside Cemetery in Savoy. Officiating the services will be Pastor Will Atwood, Bells First United Methodist Church and Virgil Cornwell Retired Pastor, First United Pentecostal Church, Savoy. Pallbearers will be Terry Malone, Brad Collins, Warren Worsham, John Ellison, Eric Snider. Josh Teague, and honorary pallbearer John Burnett.
Mullican Little Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.
