Frances Gaylor DeLeuil

Frances Wilk Gaylor DeLeuil, 99, passed away peacefully on February 28, 2025. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Frances was born in 1925 to Polish immigrants in the community of Marche. Along with her siblings, she helped her parents with farming their land and picking cotton. She also learned to be quite the southern cook. Some of the best fried chicken and blackberry cobbler you have ever tasted came out of her kitchen. All four of her children benefited from her skills also, as she would cook a full breakfast of homemade biscuits and gravy, scrambled eggs and fried bologna each morning before school.

Her zest for life was also apparent with her love of dance. Whether it was a polka, jitterbug, or swing dance, Frances could do it! If dancing was her love, a close second was her pleasure in dressing up for any occasion. Matching heels and purses were her signature look and don’t forget the earrings! She used egg crates stacked on one another to store all her precious sparkling delights, to enhance every outfit.

Frances was a devout Catholic and member of the Holy Souls Catholic Church, where she also worked in the church nursery for many years. Her second home was St. Vincent Infirmary, where she found community and joyfully gave back to it, with over 5,000 volunteer hours. If there was a need, she would try to fill it. She volunteered in the gift shop, the ICU waiting room, and the CCU information desk. Frances was honored with the prestigious Herb & Ida Besser Award for her years of volunteer service at St. Vincent.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, A.V. Gaylor, Louis DeLeuil, and her beloved companion Charles Presher; a daughter, Carolyn Evertson (Bob); her parents, Alexander and Catherine Wilk; her siblings: Ann Zanoff, Tillie Borkowski, Helen Maurer, and Valentine Wilk.

She is survived by her children, Marilyn Gaylor, Sherrie (Bubba) Klugh, Barbara (Jon) Back, along with her grandchildren Alex (Paige) Oliver, Kendall Klugh, Kameron Klugh, and great-grandson Rhett Oliver.

The family would like to express our deepest gratitude to the staff at Presbyterian Village Memory Care (Vista). Memorials may be made to Holy Souls Catholic Church or Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Services will be Saturday, March 8, 2025 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 7006 Jasna Gora Dr. North Little Rock, AR 72118. Rosary will begin at 9:30, visitation at 10:00, and Mass will follow at 10:30 AM. The burial will be at Immaculate Heart Cemetery

Arrangements entrusted to Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St., North Little Rock, AR 72114. Guestbook at www.smithfamilycares.com. 

Arrangements entrusted to Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home, 1921 Main St., North Little Rock, AR 72114.