Frances L. Holley, 85, of Hallettsville, went to be with our Lord and her loved ones on December 6, 2022.  She was born on November 12, 1937, to John I. & Frances Michna Matula, in Ezzell, Texas.  She grew up on a farm with 5 siblings and attended Ezzell school.  Later, she attended Sacred Heart Catholic High School, where she excelled in academics and volleyball.  Upon graduation, she moved, along with her cousin and best friend, Anita Koonce, to Yoakum where they took nurse's training from the Sisters of the Incarnate Word at Huth Memorial Hospital.

While she was working at Huth Memorial Hospital, she met the love of her life, Charles Holley, who had been in a very serious accident.  They began dating, and later married on November 23, 1957, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Yoakum.  Charles worked as an electrician for the railroad, and because Southern Pacific was installing new power lines, they moved every two weeks as each job was completed.  Denise was born the following year, and they continued to move with his job.  Frances was left alone during the day in a new and strange town, knowing no one, and caring for a newborn.

On July 4, 1960, Joan Michelle was born.  Joannie was born with Spina Bifida and living on the road was no longer viable.  They settled in Hallettsville, on South Front Street.  There, they were blessed with twins, Charles Jr. and Caroline on October 20, 1963.  In those days before ultrasounds and sonograms, the twins were a complete surprise!  And then again, they were blessed with their youngest, Lauri Beth, on January 5, 1965.  They raised their children, sending them to Sacred Heart Catholic School, where Frances worked as a school nurse/aide for 38 years.  She loved the kids who came to her with their "owies", or even to have a tooth pulled.  She comforted them, let them lay on her little bed in her office, and she often knew they were simply trying to get out of class, but often let them get by with it.

Charles & Frances lost their daughter, Joan, in February 1965.  The loss devasted them.  Despite the gut-wrenching pain, she knew she had to take care of her family, and she overcame the tragedy with prayers and family support.

Frances was a wonderful seamstress, often sewing her "not-so-Von Trapp family" outfits.  The deaths of her mother in 1994, and her husband in 1995, hit her very hard, but with her usual aplomb, (we called it stubbornness) she came through it.  She "found" herself, realizing that she had a great talent.  She was an excellent author, writing many stories about family and friends, and even tried her hand at comedy.

Frances enjoyed visiting the Czech Republic, several times, meeting family and making life-long friends.  She was a member of the Czech Heritage Society of Lavaca County and held several offices through the years on local and state level.  She enjoyed the painting classes at Connie's Craft Store in Cuero.

Frances's grandchildren & great-grandchildren were the highlight of her life, and she often attended their school activities and sporting events.  She was a tremendous Dallas Cowboy fan, and rarely missed a game on TV.

Frances is survived by:  son Charles R. (Chuck) Holley Jr. & wife Christie of Victoria; 3 daughters, Denise Drozd & husband Mike of Hallettsville, Caroline (Connie)Hawes & husband Pat of Victoria, and Laurie Beth Eden & husband Glenn of Mathis; brother Johnnie A. Matula of Shiner; brother-in-law Forrest Wayne Timm Jr. of Hallettsville; 13 grandchildren & their spouses; 26 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild; as well as numerous nieces & nephews.

Frances was preceded in death by:  husband Charles; parents; daughter Joan Michelle Holley; siblings, Joe John Matula, Josephine Klimitchek (Johnny), Louis A. Matula (Lorene), and Margaret Timm (Forrest Wayne Jr.; daughter Joan Michelle Holley; and great granddaughters, Ally DeVos & Kyla Drozd.

Funeral Mass Service: 10 am, Saturday, December 10, 2022, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church of Hallettsville. Visitation: 5 pm, Friday, at Kubena Funeral Home; with Rosary at 7 pm. Officiant: Msgr. John Peters. Memorials: Sacred Heart School, Hospice of South Texas or donor's choice. Burial: Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery.