Frances Aileen Douthett

Other Events:

• Education: Central State and OSU Tech
• Hobby: Baking cookies and cakes
• Name: Fran Douthett
• Name: Fran Lackey
• Occupation: Xenia, Greene County, Ohio, United States; Owner and teacher at Aunt Fran's Nursery School; Address:
  226 Roselawn Drive
• Census: 1930, Spring Valley Township, Greene County, Ohio, United States; as Frances E. Douthett, daughter, in the household of Harold Douthett; Address:
  Old Mill Road
• Census: 1940, Xenia, Greene County, Ohio, United States; Address:
  235 East Third Street
• Graduation: 1945, Xenia, Greene County, Ohio, United States; Address:
  Xenia Central High School
• Newspaper: 18 May 1965; Xenia Daily Gazette (Xenia, Ohio) 18 May 1965, p3
• Newspaper: 30 Aug 1965; Xenia Daily Gazette (Xenia, Ohio), 30 August 1965, p2
• Newspaper: 6 Jul 1967; Xenia Daily Gazette (Xenia, Ohio), 6 July 1967, p17
• Newspaper: 26 Aug 1967; Xenia Daily Gazette (Xenia, Ohio), 26 August 1967, p4
• Newspaper: 10 Jan 1968; Xenia Daily Gazette (Xenia, Ohio), 1 Kamiaru 1968, p22
• Retired: 1992, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States
• Obituary: 31 Jan 2008; The Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), 31 Jan 2008

Notes:

MEMORIES... from Fran Lackey
Born to Harold and Maude Douthett September 15, 1926 in Xenia, Ohio. I grew up during the depression years and lived in the country south of Xenia. My father worded on the railroad, but we had a big garden, chickens, and other farm animals. I ha a dog, Buster, and two pet sheep, Maggie and Jigaboo, which I loved very much. We did not have modern facilities; we had an outside "John", etc. I had two brothers and on sister; they were much older than me and they had all left home.
When I was in the third grade, we moved to town so my father could be closer to his work. I was excited because I could roller-skate and ride my bicycle on the sidewalk, and there were other kids living close by. Things went pretty well until we had a tragedy, my married brother Bud was killed (murdered) when I was twelve years old. It threw the household into terrible turmoil. It, of course, made me very sad. Bud's daughter, my niece Peggy, came to live with us.
I took lessons on the piano in the third grade and the violin, in the fifth grade. I played in the orchestra at Xenia Central from junior high through my senior year. Among the people I became acquainted with in the orchestra, was Bob Lackey. I thought he was great.
My favorite subjects in high school were home economics and music. I worked in the candy department at Kresges through high school. After graduation I got a job in the office at Delco in Dayton. It was during the Christmas season, December 1945, I went to J. C. Penney's to shop. I saw this Marine, whom I recognized as Bob Lackey. We talked for a while and then he said he would "see me around". That very afternoon, I received a phone call and it was Bob and he asked me for a date that night, and I agreed. We saw each other a few times before he had to return back from leave.
I received an engagement ring, Christmas 1946. We were married August 23, 1947. We both went to Athens, Ohio, where Bob was attending Ohio University. I worked as secretary at McBees, Inc. until well after Bob's graduation. Bob worked with the IRS in Athens until March 1951, when we moved to Gary, Indiana. At this time I was pregnant with Dan who was born September 8, 1951. Then I became pregnant with Dave, who was born September 5, 1952. It was a challenging time to say the least.
In April 1953 we left Gary, Indiana (Bob joined Dayton Tire & Rubber Co. in Dayton, Ohio) and returned to the Dayton area. We build a house in Xenia in 1957. This house was small but had a basement which we made into a recreation room. I had always wanted to teach children, so I took courses at Central State in Early childhood and opened a Nursery School in the recreation room, operating nine months out of the year. The school grew to 20 children per day.
In August 1969 Bob was selected to be part of a "startup team" for a new Dayton Tire plant in Oklahoma City. We moved there in October 1969. In the long run for me this was a good move, but in the short-run, it was difficult to leave my private school business. I knew I wanted to continue teaching, so I attended OSU Tech in Oklahoma City and received my certificate to teach in Oklahoma. I taught in various private kindergartens, but mostly at The Village School, where I taught 13 years, until I retired in 1992. In total, upon retirement, I had taught 35 years of kindergarten.
In 1980 I was asked to serve on the OECTA (Oklahoma Early Childhood Teacher's Association) board and have been on this board serving until the present; serving in various offices. Also during my teaching years I was active in volunteer work with church; serving as president and in other offices in the Women's Ministry; children's church, vacation bible school, and singing in the choir; serving as choir secretary.
I enjoyed square dancing for many years, and served with Bob in various offices in Silver Spurs Square Dance Club. Also I am a member of the Gideon Auxiliary, where Bob has been a Gideon for several years.
I have enjoyed my kitchen; cooking and baking, especially cookies and cakes which are my specialty. Family and friends have been very supportive of this hobby!
With all of these activities, none was more important and enjoyable than doing my "grandmothering" duties, helping out when the granddaughters, Simone and Anna were born. Although the girls have lived miles away, I try to keep in touch and send things of interest.
Our family enjoyed camping and traveling together. In later years we have enjoyed traveling, Bob and I, at times to be with our children in the East. We have enjoyed some memorable trips in the west and south. Also we are now members of a local travel club, with which we travel several times a year.
The Lord has been very good to me over the years; especially giving me strength and encouragement to see me through the lymphoma cancer years since 1992 and breast cancer in 2000. I am looking forward to serving others, using my God given talents in this way has brought me great joy!

Newspaper:


Nursery School Has Closing Program
"Graduation" exercises were held Saturday evening at Aunt Fran's Nursery School - the home of Mrs Robert Lackey 226 Roselawn Drive.
A storybook theme was used in the program, entitled "Highlights of Nursery School for 1954-65."

Newspaper:

After 20 Years - Members of the 1945 graduating class of Xenia Central High School, shown at a reunion Saturday evening at the DP&L Bldg. Frances Douthett Lackey was among the members attending the reunion.

Newspaper:

LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT
ESTATE OF Harold C. Douthett, deceased.
Notice is hereby given that Frances Lackey has been duly appointed as Executrix of the estate of Harold C. Douthett, deceased late of City of Xenia, Greene County, Ohio
Dated this 19th day of June, 1967
William B. Mc Callister
Probate Judge,
Greene County, Ohio

Newspaper:


Xenia Daily Gazette
August 26, 1967
From the Gazette Files:
Twenty Years Ago Today
Frances A. Douthett and Robert E. Lackey were married at the Second United Presbyterian Church.

Newspaper:


Xenia Daily Gazette
10 January 1968, p22
...Five Mishaps On Snowy Highways
Snow-covered roads accounted for only five traffic accidents in Greene County Tuesday, Xenia Post of the State Highway Patrol reported.
...Frances A. Lackey, 41, of 226 Roselawn Dr. was not cited in a one-car accident 1.4 miles north of Lower Bellbrook Rd. on Washington Mill Rd. at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Obituary:

Frances Douthett "Fran" Lackey
Frances 'Fran' Douthett Lackey died January 29, 2008. She was born September 15, 1926 in Xenia, Ohio to Harold and Maude (Sidenstricker) Douthett. She was a devoted kindergarten teacher for 35 years. Every child was special and she took great pride and satisfaction in seeing her students succeed.
She was a member of Metropolitan Baptist Church where she loved working with children. She loved the choir and was a dedicated member for many years. She was a member and served as president of Ladies Fellowship at MBC, and also enjoyed membership and served on the board of OECTA. She enjoyed square dancing with the Silver Spurs, Oklahoma City, and especially loved doing things for her family and friends such as baking and knitting special things. She had a very outgoing and loving heart for all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Walter and Robert; and sister, Helen Hussey. She is survived by her husband of 60 yrs, Robert E. Lackey; sons, Daniel and wife Mary Ann, Columbia, South Carolina, David and wife Terren, New York City; grandchildren, Simone and Anna; and several nieces and nephews. Family will greet friends from 7-9 p.m. on Thursday at Mercer-Adams. Services will be Friday February 1, 2008, 10:00 a.m. at Metropolitan Baptist Church with interment in Rose Hill Burial Park.

Frances married Robert Ellsworth Lackey on 23 Aug 1947 in Xenia, Greene County, Ohio, United States. Robert (son of Dr. Burt LaFetra Lackey and Jessella Beebe) was born on 4 Mar 1926 in Xenia, Greene County, Ohio, United States; died on 5 Mar 2012 in Bethany, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States; was buried on 9 Mar 2012 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, United States. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living
2. Living