Palestine High School Alumni Association

07 / 16 / 1918  –  04 / 21 / 2007

Frances Dilley Broyles, 88, was born July 16, 1918 in Palestine, Texas to Sammie Belle Campbell and Clarence Van Deursen Dilley. She is a granddaughter of the late Governor Thomas Mitchell Campbell and a direct descendent of George M. Dilley, a pioneering railroad industrialist of Texas in the 1880s. She attended Randolph Macon College for Women in Lynchburg, VA and graduated cum laude from the University of Texas in 1939 with a degree in the Bachelor of Arts. She was a member of the Pi Beta Phi fraternity.

In 1941, she married Gordon Barrett Broyles. As a lifelong resident of Palestine, she was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, the Meleterion Study Club, DAR, Palestine Fishing Club, and a charter member of the Harvey Woman’s Club. She took much love and interest in her family, gardening, and was an avid bridge player. Loved ones will remember her both as a gracious hostess and a lady of great spiritual strength.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Gordon B.; her son, Tom Dilley Broyles; and her sisters: Jean Dilley Knowles and Janet Dilley Davenport.

She is survived by her children: Gordon Barrett Broyles Jr., and wife Sunny, Lucie F. Broyles and daughter-in-law, Nancy T. Broyles, all of Palestine. Her grandchildren are: David B. Broyles, Ben T. Broyles, Sam D. Broyles and Carroll B. Gurganus, all of Dallas; Sarah F. Broyles of Boston, MA; L. Jeannette Bostick of Durham, NC; Barrett G. Bostick of Winter Haven, FL; Betsy B. Bostick of Tampa, FL; Jennifer Griffin, Linsey Whittington and great granddaughter Jacie Griffin, all of Palestine. She also is survived by her cousins, Bud Wommack of Palestine, Mitchell Wommack of Corpus Christi and Dr. William B. Campbell of Austin.

Visitation will be at Bailey & Foster Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 23. The services will be at the First Presbyterian Church at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 24, followed by the graveside at East Hill Cemetery. The Rev. Linda Herron and Dr. Doug Blanton will be officiating.

Honorary pallbearers include: Bud Wommack, Mitchell Wommack, Dr. William B. Campbell, Luckett Kolstad, Jack Herrington, Bob Beck and David Dial.

Active pallbearers are: Bill Knowles, Hank Davenport, Will Broyles, Dr. Bob McFarlane, the Honorable Bascom Bentley, Dr. Jay Herrington, Dr. Sparky Kolstad and Drew Wommack.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center or the American Heart Association.

Source: Palestine Herald-Press 04-23-2007