Frances Kerr Botsford

Frances Coppage Kerr Botsford, 98, of Benton, Arkansas, formerly of Arkadelphia, died on Wednesday, September 25, 2019, at the Saline Memorial Hospice House, Bryant, Arkansas.

She was born July 9, 1921, in Lepanto, Arkansas, to the late Lottie Beatrice Johnston Kerr and John Brice Kerr.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Allan Botsford, and her siblings, William Hamilton Kerr, Bernice Lane Kerr, Wilford Wilson Kerr, Martha Eileen Kerr Addkison, Julia Elizabeth Kerr, John Brice Kerr, and Dorothy Jean Kerr.

She is survived by her daughters, Amy Daniel and husband, Richard, and Eileen Beyers; nine grandchildren and twenty-five great-grandchildren; Rick Daniel and Riley, Ashby, Hallie, and Lillie Daniel, Ryan Daniel (Karen) and Brayden, Bridger, and Brynlee Daniel, Rhett Daniel (Dana) and Cooper and Asher Daniel, Rachel Daniel Willmott (Wade) and Mackenzie, Meredith, and Emma Willmott, Whitney Beyers Nestlehut (Chris), Jackson and Miles Crain, Tyler and Lucas Nestlehut, Lindsey Beyers Fowers (Matt) and Graham, Brooke, and Cathrynn Fowers, Blake Beyers and Andrew and Kendall Beyers, Cameron Beyers (Elizabeth) and Carson and Weston Beyers, and Madison Beyers Nash (Nick) and Kate and Magnolia Nash.

Frances graduated from high school in West Point, Mississippi in 1939.  She attended Wood Junior College in Mathiston, Mississippi, and Mississippi State College for Women in Columbus, Mississippi. She received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Mississippi State University. She did post graduate work at Columbia University in New York, New York.  She taught school in Mississippi, New Mexico, Georgia, Colorado, and Arkansas for a total of 40 years.  She retired from the Arkadelphia Public Schools in 1983. She served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was stationed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.  She was a member of the Benton Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Christian Community Care Clinic, 220 West South Street, Benton, Arkansas 72015 or the Ronald McDonald Family Room, 7301 Rogers Avenue, Fourth Floor, Fort Smith, Arkansas 72903.

Her family would like to express their appreciation to Drs. Mark and Joe Martindale for the care of their mother.  Also, a special thanks to the staffs of Mount Carmel Community and the Saline County Hospice House for their kindness, love, and  compassion.

Services will be at 10:00 am, Saturday, October 5, 2019 with visitation at 9:00 am at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home, Arkadelphia, Arkansas.