Dr. Frances E Reynolds, Ed.D's Obituary
Dr. Frances Reynolds, Ed.D., a lifelong educator who taught all grades from pre-school to college, passed away after a short hospital stay on February 23, 2023 in Columbia, Missouri, at the age of 89. Fran was born on May 30, 1933, in Pasadena, California to Louise and Frank Reynolds.
Fran earned her Doctorate of Education degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) in 1988. She taught multiple classes at Rock Bridge High School from 1977-2003 including the nationally-acclaimed, team-taught “The United States and the Vietnam Experience” and established “The Reading Place,” a space to encourage students to read. Following her retirement, she taught intensive English classes at the MU’s Asian Affairs Center from 2004-2023. In addition to her teaching, Dr. Reynolds was a prolific writer and presenter and often presented at professional development conferences including the National Teachers of English, Missouri MOREnet conferences and the Veterans for Peace.
Fran became a Unitarian Universalist in 1959 after her marriage to Robert C. Waters in 1955. After their divorce in 1976, Fran moved to Columbia, MO and joined the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia, where she led & participated in multiple committees. Fran facilitated the Life Stories writing group at the church beginning in 2000. This group provided yearly services and books based on their writing.
Fran was devoted to her family and cherished spending time with her grandchildren. She is survived by her three children: Jonathan (Janet), Ted (Shannon) and Anne (Jim). She was known as “Gram” to her beloved nine grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister Cheryl (Bruce) and legions of beloved nieces and nephews, cousins, and dear friends, ex-students, and friends with whom she shared a love of writing, swimming, dogs, books, walking and life in general.
A memorial service to celebrate Dr. Reynolds' life will be held on June 10, 2023, at 1 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Columbia, MO. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the in memory of Dr. Frances Reynolds, to Rock Bridge High School Frances Reynolds Literacy Fund 4303 S Providence Rd #7198, Columbia, MO 65203 or Columbia Second Chance Animal Rescue https://www.columbia2ndchance.org/donate.
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