Frances Willis Conard

March 5, 1948 ~ December 25, 2012
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Frances Willis Conard, 84, went to be with her Heavenly Father on Tuesday, December 25, 2012.
Frances was a Christian Lady who loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and had a very humble spirit. She had a kind, loving, caring nature toward everyone she met. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and mother-in-law.
She was born September 24, 1928 in Neshoba County, MS to the late William R. Willis and Addie Cockrell Willis. Frances attended Neshoba County schools. She graduated from Coldwater High School in 1946. She also graduated from Draughons Business College located in Jackson, MS in 1947. She worked several years at Mississippi State Hospital in Whitfield, MS. It was there that she met the Love of her life, Clarence M. Conard. They were married March 5, 1948. They moved to Western North Carolina in 1951 and decided to make their home here in the Asheville area because Frances fell in love with the beautiful mountains. Frances worked at the Sky City store in Oteen and retired in 1991. She loved her Heavenly Father, her family and her community on Avondale Road, where she lived for 55 years. She also enjoyed fishing, her garden flowers and her vegetable gardens, picnics and trips to the beach. She was of the Baptist faith and was a member of Gashes Creek Baptist Church.
In addition to her parents, Frances was also preceded in death by her husband of 34 years, Clarence M. Conard, who went home to be with his Heavenly Father on March 31, 1982; her dear 2nd mother, Myrtle Edwards Willis; three brothers, Cockrell, Delbert and Johnny Willis, all of Neshoba County, MS and one dear sister, Mary J. Willis Moore, also of MS. She is survived by two daughters, Nellene White and husband, Arnold, of Candler and Elizabeth (Libby) Mintz and husband, Edward, of Waynesville; two sons, Geoff Conard and wife, Teresa, of Swannanoa and Scott Conard and wife, Rachel of Hendersonville; five grandchildren, Arlinda Chidlow and husband, Tiernan (T), Kim Smith and husband, James, Michelle Royster and husband, Brian, Adam Conard and wife, Amanda and Amy Conard. She is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, Autumn Meadows, Maddison Smith, Peyton Smith, David Royster, Felicia Royster, Priscilla Royster, Brendon Case, Asher Conard, Jack Jordan IV, Travis Chidlow and Cole Chidlow; one brother, Edward Willis and wife, Judy, of Neshoba County, MS as well as several nieces and nephews.
Frances will be dearly missed by all that knew her. We will only be apart a short time until we meet again in Heaven.
The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 PM on Friday, December 28, 2012 at the funeral home and at other times will be at their homes.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, December 29, 2012 at Groce Funeral Home on Tunnel Road with the Reverends James Maybin, Jack Ward and Marvin Watts officiating. Interment will follow at Gashes Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
Flowers are appreciated or donations may be made in Frances' honor to the Samaritan's Purse, PO Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607.
Sweet Aunt Frances, we love you dearly and know we will meet again in Heaven. Darden & Charlene Purgason
Kim, Arlinda and Nellene, I consider it a great honor to have known ‘Nanny’ she was so funny. Some of the things she would say just amazed me. She never sugar coated it. You three are so much like her. You know she was a special lady when Jesus personally invited her to come and celebrate his Birthday. I can’t imagine the pain you must feel at this moment, but the pain will fade in time. The great memories will never leave. I love all of you and I’ll always be here for you.
With love,
Pamela
Geoff and family so sorry to hear of the loss of your Mother, our prayers and thoughts are with you.
My thoughts and prayers are for all of the family. We have loved Mrs. Frances and the family all my life. You may have been neighbors, but were as close as family. She was a well loved lady. You will be missed Mrs. Frances……..
My prayers are with each of you. May our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ watch over and give you the comfort only He can at this time.
Mike Atkinson
Scott, so sorry to hear of your mothers passing. We have you and Rachel and the family in our thoughts and prayers.
Geof…Very sorry to hear about your mom. May God comfort you during this time.
Geoff – You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. You Mom sure did get a great and blessed Christmas getting to be with her Lord and Savior. We Love You. Please let us know if we can do anything for you!
My sweet Aunt Francis, you will be missed so much. I love you and your dear family. We will meet again someday. Now you will be with dear Uncle Clarence again. Have a happy reunion. Love, Rosa Mary
teddy and i are so sorry for your loss .you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers
Frances, thank you for being my friend . I cant say what that meant to me. It was an honor to know you. God rest your soul and I pray for all your family .You will always be in my heart , Love you sweetheart Danny
Scott, Rachel, & Family,
What a wonderful legacy Ms Frances leaves behind. A GODLY heritage for her family to cling to. You’re in our prayers now, and in the days ahead. It’s difficult to let go, but it’s so much easier knowing that it’s not ‘Goodbye,’ but ‘See You Soon.’ Isaiah 46:4 ‘I have made you and I will carry you. I will sustain you and I will rescue you. Thank the LORD for HIS presence and for his watch-care over you during this time. We love you.
To The Conard Family:
I cannot believe we are at this stage of life. Your mom/nanny, Ms Francis to me, took care of me (as well as my siblings) many times over the years and she always treated us like family when in your home. You guys are more than neighbors, you are family. We were so blessed to have the neighborhood that we did to grow up in. Writing a note of condolence feels so strange & surreal as we mourn with you. She was such an wonderful friend, neighbor and lady to our community. Please know how much our family loved her and how blessed we are to have known her and your family all these years. As the winds of change hit our childhood neighborhood & the changing of the guards occurs, we are reminded in the hope of eternal life & long for heaven and the great reunion there. Please know we love each of you & we are here for you.
Much love,
Heidi Walker Sermersheim
and George and Lauren
To Then Conard Family:
It was with great sadness that we learned the passing of Frances. She and the entire Conard Family were our neighbors for many years and I have such wonderful memories growing up in the Avondale community with the Conard Family. My mother & father (Homer & Martha)thought of you all as family. One thing you can know for sure is she is in a better place and we can one day see them again. Frances was truly an ‘Angel’. Our love & prayers are with you.
Jeff,
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers. There is a lot of sadness on Maplewood Drive but also alot of love and pride in two very special parents that we were both priviledged to know and love. Your neighbors on Maplewood.
I’m so sorry for your loss Scott and Geoff and families. Aunt Francis was a sweet lady. Praying for peace and comfort.
Dear Conard Family,
Your mother lived ‘across the road’ for as long as I can remember, and it is very sad to think of her passing. I am thinking of you today as you go through her funeral and burial. I wish that I had words of comfort for you, but I don’t. Just know that others are thinking of you and remembering her as a friend and neighbor.
Our hearts are heavy for your loss.
With condolences,
Russell Skowronek and Margaret Graham