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Frances Mary Brownlie
December 9, 1923 ~ February 13, 2013
ARLINGTON -- Frances Mary Keller Brownlie, 89, beloved mother and grandmother, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2013.
Memorial service: 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 20, at Wade Family Funeral Home, 4140 W. Pioneer Parkway, Arlington. A family reception will be held following services at 4 p.m. at The Waterford at Pantego, 2650 W. Park Row, Pantego, 76013. Burial: Prior to the service at 1:30 p.m. in Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, Lane C.
Memorials: Memorial gifts may be made to the Trinity Valley School Endowment Fund, 7500 Dutch Branch Road, Fort Worth, Texas 76132; the Susan G. Komen Foundation; or the Arlington Woman's Club Scholarship Fund, 1515 W. Abram St., Arlington, Texas 76013.
Frances was born Dec. 9, 1923, in Moose Lake, Minn., to Earl Fred and Nielsene Mortensen Keller. After graduating from Moose Lake High School, she moved to Los Angeles, Calif., and worked at the Douglas Aircraft plant as a "Rosie the Riveter." She joined the Army in 1944 and after basic training was stationed in Roswell, N.M. She took great pride in her job as a riveter with the Army, repairing B-17s that were damaged in combat. Frances met her husband, Smith A. Brownlie Jr. "Buddie," while in New Mexico and they were married in 1945. They were married 41 years until his death in 1987.
Frances and Buddie moved several times during the early years of their marriage until moving to Arlington in 1968. It was here that they made their home and raised their two children, Smith and Barbara. Frances worked for Gulf Atlantic Distribution Services in Arlington for 17 years until her retirement in 1987.
Frances was a member of Grace Lutheran Church. She was a former member of the Arlington Woman's Club and an enthusiastic member of "The Girl's Bridge Group," a group of close friends that she played bridge with for over 40 years. She also loved to travel, especially with her sister-in-law and close friend, Emilie Galvin.
Frances was a loving mother and grandmother, a kind and true friend and an expert at baking chocolate chip cookies. Her incredible work ethic, her ready laugh, quick wit and kind spirit will be greatly missed.
The family would like to thank the staff of the skilled nursing unit at Isle at Watercrest in Mansfield for their loving care during Frances' illness.
Her parents; a brother, Martin Keller; her husband, Buddie; and her daughter, Barbara Brownlie Russell, preceded Frances in death.
Survivors: Frances is survived by her son, Smith A. Brownlie III and his wife, Teresa, of Fort Worth; her son-in-law, Randy Russell of Arlington; grandchildren, Caroline Brownlie, Katherine Brownlie and Carter Brownlie, all of Fort Worth, James Russell, Susan Russell, Andrew Russell and Anthony Russell, all of Arlington; sister, Eline Nash of Mesa, Ariz.; brother, Leo Keller of Paynesville, Minn.; sister-in-law, Emilie Galvin of Lompoc, Calif.; brother-in-law, Rick Brownlie of Walland, Tenn.; several nieces and nephews; and numerous friends.
Wade Family Funeral Home
Arlington, 817-274-9233
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Dear Family, I am sorry about the loss of your love one. The BIBLE promise that one day the dead will be restored to life by means of a resurrection( 5:28,29).I hope this promise bring the family a measure of hope.