Mary Frances Houghton

November 19, 1930 - January 29, 2019

Mary Frances Houghton, 88, a lifelong resident of Lee County, FL, passed away Tuesday, January 29, 2019 in Fort Myers, FL. She was born November 19, 1930 in Fort Myers to Howard and Charlie Bell Easterlin.

Elegance, love, creativity and a giving heart best describe Fran, who passed away of cardiac arrest at Gulf Coast Medical Center. A graduate of Fort Myers High, she met the love of her life, William (Bill) Houghton, as a sophomore. After raising their four children, she enrolled and graduated from the nursing program at Edison Junior College with her RN degree. She began her career at Lee Memorial Hospital, then SW Regional Medical Center Gulf and Coast Medical Center, serving for almost 40 years on the IV team. Patients would often say, “Go get Fran. She is the only one sticking me with that needle.” Gulf Coast awarded her the first Humanitarian Award as well as Nurse of the Year. Frances was truly a caregiver not only at the hospital but also for anyone in need in the community. She loved to bake and cook. Fran had many baking specialties, one of which was her homemade cranberry bread. At community fund raisers her cranberry bread was known to go for a very high price. Her true passion was flower arranging and working in her garden, which she did into her mid-eighties. She was a founding member of the Jasmine Garden Club, active for almost 50 years. Fran enjoyed being part of the women’s Capital Investors Club. Fran was a member of First Baptist Church, now City Gate Ministries. She was a very spiritual woman with great faith who truly lived by Golden Rule. She always smiled and gave you a hug. We will all miss that smile.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 72 years, Bill Houghton; three loving children, Martha Brookshire (David) of New York, NY, Mahlan Houghton, Jr. (Paula) of Fort Myers, and Mark Houghton (Kim) of Fort Myers; two sisters, Barbara Metts (Louis) of GA and Dorothy Dotson (Charlie) of Fort Myers; brother in law, Roger Burns of Fort Myers; seven grandchildren, nine great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews.

Fran was preceded in death by her daughter, Marcia Karen Houghton and her sister, Jackie Burns.

Memorial Services will be held 11:00 AM, Saturday, February 16, 2019 at City Gate Ministries, 1735 Jackson Street, Fort Myers, FL 33901 with Pastor Winford Hendrix and Pastor David Pleasant officiating.

Contributions in her memory can be made to CCMI Soup Kitchen, P.O. Box 2143, Fort Myers, FL 33902.

Mullins Memorial Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Fort Myers, is entrusted with final care.

Guestbook

  1. Tami Miller (grandchild) Jun 19, 2020 at 2:41 pm

    I miss you so much Ma.

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