Mary Frances (Evans) Easterwood was born June 24th, 1923 in Kingsville, Missouri, and died June 9th, 2024 at LaPlata Nursing Home, LaPlata, Missouri.

Frances graduated from Central Missouri State Teachers College in Warrensburg and began teaching in a one-room school near Chilhowee, Missouri.

She and Melbourne Easterwood were married on January 2nd, 1946. After military service in World War Two, they settled in Kansas City, Missouri where he became a federal government meat inspector and Frances worked as a bookkeeper.

In 1954 when their son, Steve, was born, she became a stay-at-home mother. Frances was very involved at the First Baptist Church of Raytown. She was, at heart, an encourager. She tirelessly wrote notes to people, always closing with the phrase, "Jesus loves you and I do too!" Every year she handwrote over 300 Christmas cards. Frances loved flowers and always maintained a large garden.

She was preceded in death by her father, William Truman Evans, her mother, Dora Evans, one sister Mildred Elizabeth Evans, and her husband, Melbourne Easterwood. She is survived by one son, Steven Easterwood, a daughter-in-law, Cheryl Easterwood, and three grandsons, Jonathan Easterwood and his wife Rebecca, Jeffrey Easterwood and his wife Diana, and Jarrod Easterwood and his wife Renee. She is also survived by four great-grandchildren, Brielle Easterwood, Kayla Easterwood, Judah Easterwood, and Miles Easterwood.

The funeral will be held at Sweeney-Phillips and Holdren Funeral Home in Warrensburg, Missouri with burial at Pisgah Cemetery. Donations in her honor may be made to Future Leadership Foundation, an organization she loved. (flfmissions.org)