Frances Hauser

Frances Charlene Hauser, of Edmond, left this life and began her eternal one with her Lord on January 31, 2015 at Oklahoma City’s Mercy Hospital after a sudden illness.

She was born June 9, 1928 to Charles and Josephine Packnett in Eagletown, Oklahoma, and grew up in Antlers in Southeastern Oklahoma.  Growing up in Antlers, Fran, as she was known to friends and family, was that person who lit up every room she walked into.  She loved cheerleading, choir and served as the Drum Major for the Antlers Bearcat Marching Band.

Fran loved adventure and life, and was the type who made all around her love them as well.  When she was fourteen years old she and her younger brother Joe, took a taxi ride 1,500 miles from Antlers Oklahoma, to Huntington Beach California, to visit their mother who was working in the shipyards during World War II.

The trip took three days and cost them twenty dollars each.

When she was seventeen years old, Fran survived a deadly tornado which destroyed her hometown.  She and her friends took refuge at a roller skating rink while the tornado cut a 1/2 mile swath through town demolishing homes and businesses.  The tornado killed 70 people and injured more than 300, but Fran escaped injury and ran home to her anxiously awaiting family.

Growing up, Frances overcame many hardships but always valued education. She graduated from Antlers High School in 1946 and from Murray State College in Tishomingo in 1948 with an Associate’s degree in Science. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Northeastern State University.   A devout believer in education, she naturally went on to earn two Masters Degrees, one from Northeastern Oklahoma State University, and another from her beloved Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

In 1977 she married the love of her life George Hauser in Wheeler, Texas. The couple lived in Weatherford while her husband served as the head basketball coach at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.  Fran spent 20 plus years teaching junior high and elementary school children in the Weatherford Public Schools.  Prior to her tenure teaching in Weatherford, she enjoyed teaching at Bacone College in Muskogee and American Christian College in Tulsa,   She had a unique teaching style that allowed her students to learn in a personal way. She loved the challenge of classrooms full of diverse students and giving the most resistant learner hope. Frances had the ability to calm otherwise tense situations with her compassionate personality. She was a 20 year plus breast cancer survivor who graciously supported friends experiencing similar difficulties themselves.

She was a devoted wife who would faithfully accompany George on his travels. She rarely missed a game and would often accompany her husband on the road recruiting. Often times her personality and wit helped cheer Coach up after a tough game. She served as a surrogate mother to many of the players who often times were a long way from home. She treasured her relationship with the players’ families and the families of coaches throughout the state.  She was a very loyal and supportive coach’s wife who would often challenge the referees’ calls and even once followed them toward the locker room noting the referee’s lack of ability and lack of hair!

Frances was very proud of her Indian heritage. A proud member of the Choctaw Nation, she was an avid collector of Indian art and she and George enjoyed traveling to New Mexico in search of new adventures. She was fearless when it came to heights. She would look over the edge of the Royal Gorge Bridge, ascend to the top of the Sears Tower, and once stranded on top of a plateau in New Mexico had to get down on a ladder, she couldn’t get George to climb!  She loved meeting her sister Maudine, brother Joe and sister- in- law Margurite at OU football games. She loved gardening, yard work, flowers, music and dancing.  She loved glitter, sequins, and bling!  Her favorite TV show was All Things British on OETA.

Most of all, Fran loved her family. Known as Auntie Franie, MiMi and MeeMaw to her family, Frances loved visits and calls from her many children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

Fran Hauser was larger than life, and her passing leaves a large hole in the world, and in the hearts of the many, many who knew and loved her.  Fran will be deeply missed, but those of us who have received salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ look forward to being reunited with her in eternity.

She was preceded in death by her parents Charles Packnett and Josephine Pierce; brother, Robert Pierce, and daughter Donna Lee.

She is survived by her husband of 37 years, George Hauser; her brother Joe Packnett of Norman; two sisters, Maudean Harden of Wynnewood, and Darlene Watashe of Kellyville; children, Carolyn King Wiggins of Sulphur , Rita King Ballinger of Bixby, Leslie King Ameen of Tulsa, David King of Tulsa; step-children Susan Stephens of Claremore, William Hauser of Tulsa and Brett Hauser of Georgetown, Texas; 24 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

A service celebrating her life will be 2:00 pm Thursday, February 5^th, at Matthews Funeral Home in Edmond. True to Fran’s wishes, this will be a party with big band music to celebrate her life, and the wonderful truth that she is not gone forever.