The family of Frances Acuff will celebrate her life of 86 years at a private memorial service at Lake Ridge Chapel and Memorial Designers. We invite you to sign her virtual guestbook and download her memorial keepsake folder to your device for printing, here on this page.Frances Jane (Hammontree) Acuff (86) of Lubbock passed away on June 13, 2021. She was born in Chattanooga, Tenn., to Frank and Thelma Hammontree, where she grew up with her older sister, Joyce Hammontree Wiseman, and graduated from Chattanooga High School in 1952. After briefly attending David Lipscomb College in Nashville, she transplanted to the Big Country to attend Abilene Christian College, graduating in 1956 with a BA in English. While at ACC she met the love of her life, Royce Acuff, whom she married on July 19, 1956, in Chattanooga. They began their life journey together in Lubbock, where Frances taught school and Royce built a cotton gin (Center Gin Company) with his father. In 1957, they moved to a house next to the cotton gin west of Ropesville. Frances and Royce raised two children, Gary and Pam, and the family-sponsored Kenneth Bobo, a teen at the Children’s Home of Lubbock, who became a special member of their family for many years.After moving to Levelland in 1962, Frances worked as a homemaker and was an active member of the Cactus Drive Church of Christ. In the 70s, she began teaching elementary school in Levelland and went on to teach in Ropesville, Lubbock, and finally Frenship, where she taught science classes for 22 years until 1998. Though she earned her degree in English and was an avid reader and writer, Frances developed a love for science through teaching and thoroughly enjoyed passing her interest to young students. A razor-sharp, dry wit wrapped in perfectly poised Southern charm, Frances often commented that she’d accomplished all her life’s dreams: being a wife, mother, and teacher. Friends and family will testify that she did so well and with unwavering faithfulness.After both their children graduated high school in Levelland, Frances and Royce moved to Lubbock in 1978. They were members at Broadway Church of Christ, where they taught Sunday School and were active in the missions ministry, and they later attended Sunset Church of Christ.Frances was preceded in death by Royce, her husband of 63 years, her parents, Frank and Thelma Hammontree, and her sister Joyce Hammontree Wiseman. She is survived by her children Gary (Awilda) Acuff of College Station and Pam (Roger) Wilson of Hurst, grandchildren Paul (Deb) Wilson of Denton, Thomas Wilson of Brooklyn, N.Y., Laura Tolentino of College Station, and Jennifer (Justin Fleer) Acuff of Fayetteville, Ark. She has four great-grandchildren, Nicolas Mills, Ben Wilson, and Dante and Scotland Tolentino.
