Frances Marie (Gardner) Haffner

Frances Marie (Gardner) Haffner, age 87, of Joshua, Texas, passed away to be with her Lord on Saturday, January 23, 2021, at Grandview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Grandview, Texas.

On Friday, January 29, at 2 pm, Frances’ family will gather for a graveside service at Union Hill Cemetery in Johnson County. Mountain Valley Funeral Home of Joshua will manage the service for the family. Flowers for the service should be delivered to Mountain Valley Funeral Home in Joshua.

Frances was born May 25, 1933, in Joshua, Texas. She graduated from Joshua High School and started what would become a lifetime of learning and self-improvement.  After raising her children, she made a successful career in the insurance industry, earning the FMLI professional designation.  Frances retired from Pension Planning Associates of Fort Worth, TX, in 2008, at age 75.

Frances was smart and yet folksy, colorful and fun-loving. She enjoyed get-togethers with family and friends, dancing and music, car trips, cruises, and all sorts of travel around the USA, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America, and Europe. She loved bird watching, beaches, nature walks, peach cobbler, anything chocolate, a good laugh, and a good book. Her children, grands and great-grands adored her forgiving nature and admired her courage and resilience, both in dealing with her own challenges and in supporting her loved ones through theirs.

Frances is preceded in death by her parents, Walter, and Nevada (Brumley) Gardner; her sister, Darla Jean (Gardner) McFarland; and Frances’ husbands from 3 marriages:  James F. Walker, Merle Haffner and Warren Arthur.

Frances is survived by 4 children from her first marriage to James Walker of Joshua: daughter Darla Lynn Walker; daughter Dianna Jean (Walker) Jackson, married to David Jackson; daughter Anna Denise Walker and son Nathan Daniel Walker.  Frances is survived by 5 grandchildren: Joshua Jackson, Cory Jackson, Christina (Walker) Mecca-McClory; Mattie (Walker) Wylie, and Grace (Walker) Clausen; and 9 great-grandchildren: Niko Mecca, Logan Mecca, Nathan Walker, Bella Jackson, Lilah Jackson, Ava Clausen, Alice McClory, Indigo McClory, and Phoenix McClory.

Family members wish to express heartfelt thanks and blessings to Grandview Nursing & Rehabilitation Center for providing the best level of care to Frances and to all their residents, as if they are extended family. Thanks, also, to Alpha Omega Hospice for their service to Frances in her final days.

Epitaph:

Frances Marie (Gardner) Haffner

May 25, 1933 – January 23, 2021

“Loving Mother & Best Friend -Now she dances with Angels.”