Francine Wilson

Mary Francine Wilson, 85 of Judsonia, Arkansas, passed away from this life Saturday, April 6, 2024 at her home surrounded by her loving family. She was born on April 26, 1938 to the late Jack and Irene (Bolding) Scarbrough in Judsonia. She graduated from Judsonia High School in 1956. In high school she played basketball, (sat out a whole season because she did not want to play forward, came back the next season playing guard…you could say she was stubborn; I would say she knew what she wanted). She was also the pitcher on the softball team. In the 6th grade they hung out by the old gym during lunchtime and that’s where Francine caught Red’s eye. On Saturday, April 9, 1955 they married and that was the beginning of their life together of 69 years. He had asked her father, Jack twice for her hand in marriage and he said “ no…”. Two friends in Searcy were going to get married so they went with them. Francine made her own wedding dress. After the wedding they went to separate homes, but soon after she told Jack, and they moved in together. Their new journey began when their first child, Sandra Wayne, was born in 1957 followed by Kenneth Eugene in 1958, Jerry Wayne in 1960and Mary Jane (2 hours later) in 1960. Red bought her a light blue 1966 Dodge Dart to commute as she began her journey. In 1967 she entered Arkansas State Teachers College, where she received her B.A. in 2.5 years. Later she received her Master’s. The UCA FRANCINE WILSON SCHOLARSHIP is for full-time students majoring in Special Education from one of the following counties: White, Independence, Jackson, Woodruff, Prairie, Lonoke, Pulaski, Faulkner, or Cleburne. Consideration may be given to financial need. After all the children graduated high school…she needed to blow off steam and had time for herself, so she started bowling and she was good at it. Francine retired from teaching in 1992 and received the Teacher of The Year award that same year. She had taught Special Ed. And laid the groundwork for the reading program for 25 years at Judsonia Schools. She went to night classes and drove to Conway every day for class. Francine liked picking strawberries, bowling, reading, puzzles, crosswords, sudoku, wheel of fortune, jeopardy, razorback basketball, coconut cake, strawberry pie, seeing grandkids play sports…she had a wall of encyclopedias and she was one herself. She did not like music, cheese, ham sausage, bacon, chicken, fishing, dancing. She left behind her loving husband of 69 years, Kenneth “Red” Wilson; her children, Kenneth Eugene Wilson (Elena), Mary Jane Wilson; her grandchildren, Kenneth Andres Wilson, Carolyn Blankenship, Mendy Smith, Valerie Ramsey, Jonathon Coker, Jeremy Goodwin; great-grandchildren, Faith, Gabriel, Parker, Kade, Glavin, Annabelle, Elijah, and Beatrice. Francine was preceded in death by her parents; 2 children, Sandra Wayne and Jerry Wayne Wilson; grandson, Jimmy Goodwin; siblings, Joyce Ryan, Leslie Scarbrough, Judy Seger, Betty Wynne. Visitation will be from 11:00am-12:00pm Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at Powell Funeral Home of Bald Knob-Judsonia. A Graveside Service will immediately follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Judsonia, Arkansas. Arrangements are entrusted to Powell Funeral Home, Bald Knob-Judsonia. www.powellfuneralhome.net

Francine Wilson

April 26, 1938 - April 6, 2024