Mary Frances Butler Owens

Mary Frances Butler Owens was born Mary Frances Pennington to Myrtle and Willie “Bill” Pennington April 4, 1934 in Lamesa, Texas. She started school at age 4 and graduated from Blackshear High School at 16 years old. She graduated from Prairieview A&M University at 19 years old in 1953. She started teaching at Blackshear High School as a Physical Education teacher and girl’s coach in San Angelo, Texas 1953. Her professional career carried her through Blackshear High School, Blackshear Junior High, Hammond and Carver. In 1955, Mary Frances joined a team of educators and the NAACP to integrate SAISD. The children were integrated first and then later the teachers. It was upon integration that she was hired as the first black teacher at Glenmore Elementary where she taught for 25 years and one year at Belaire Elementary before retiring. Upon retiring she continued with the SAISD substituting for 28 years while working at Mosaic in San Angelo, Texas for greater than 10yrs. During her tenure with the SAISD she served a stint as president of the Classroom Teachers Association and was named P.E. Teacher of the Year. She remained active in Delta Kappa Gamma, The Children’s Advocacy Center of Tom Green County and Building Bridges of Hospice of San Angelo. She is a proud active member of Galilee Baptist Church where she has served for greater than 30years. Mary Frances was preceded in death by her parents Myrtle and Willie “Bill” Pennington; 3 brothers Frank Pennington of Amarillo, Texas, Louis Pennington of Austin, Texas, and Jerry Pennington of Midland, Texas; oldest son Gerald D. Butler of Dallas, Texas; Father of children Neil D. Butler, Sr of San Angelo, Texas. She is survived by her beloved husband of 43 yrs, Tony Owens; her children, Neil D. “Rusty” (Velma) Butler, Dr. Kymberly (Coye) Devrouax; Grandchildren, Brandy (Jeramy) Walker, Courtney (Keisha) Smith, Zachary Devrouax; Great-grandchildren; Makayla Blewett, Jasmin Walker, Jabria Walker, Jeramy Walker Jr; many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be held at Harper Funeral Home 6:00pm-8:00pm Friday, February 15, 2019. Funeral services at First Baptist Church 11:00am Saturday, February 16, 2019. Burial Lawnhaven Memorial Gardens.