Frances Nan McConnell Bequette

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Greenwood Public Schools
420 North Main Street
Greenwood, AR  72936


Good News Community Church
2793 US-61
Festus, MO  63028
Frances Nan McConnell Bequette

May 4, 1938 - September 24, 2018

Frances Nan McConnell Bequette, May 4, 1938-September 24, 2018. On September 24, 2018, after more than 80 years, our beloved Mother slipped the surly bonds of Earth to go Home to touch the face of God and be in His presence for eternity. Nan was born on May 4, 1938 on a farm outside of Greenwood, Arkansas that is now part of Fort Chaffee. Her parents were Earl and Emma (Beach) McConnell and early in her life she was surrounded and nurtured by her McConnell grandparents and her Papa Beach, as well as many uncles and aunts and cousins. Nan's family soon moved into Greenwood with the creation of Fort Chaffee and she was raised and schooled in the community and its public school, where her mother was also a long-time third-grade teacher and her Uncle Arl McConnell was the principal. In 1956, Nan graduated from Greenwood High School and attended the University of Arkansas majoring in Home Economics. Near the end of her college years she met George Bequette and they soon became engaged. After graduating from Arkansas in January 1960, Nan started work in Jonesboro, Arkansas for the University of Arkansas Extension Service. In September of 1960, George and Nan married at St. Boniface Catholic Church in Fort Smith. Immediately after the marriage ceremony they drove to Lawrence, Kansas where George started a new position as a graduate assistant football coach at the University of Kansas and Mom began work as a dietician at the Kansas athletic training table. It was also in Lawrence that their first child, Jay was born in mid-1961. Later in 1961, George and Nan moved to Wichita, Kansas so George could take a high school teaching and coaching job. In Wichita, their second child, Missy was born in early 1963. Later that year, George and Nan moved again, this time to Springfield, Missouri where George started a 48-year career as a State Farm Agent and executive. Nan was instrumental in helping George get his career successfully started with her support and involvement in his work and professional relationships. In early 1965, George and Nan welcomed their third and final child, Chris. In 1968, through a management promotion with State Farm, George and Nan and their family moved to George's hometown of Crystal City, Missouri. It would be in Crystal City where Nan would live for the next 47 years and make dozens of friends and raise her three children. During this period of child-rearing, Nan was not only an accomplished stay-at-home mom, but she was a terrific community ''team player'' and was often asked by the grade school principal to substitute teach. Additionally, she was a leader in the Parent-Teacher Association at the Crystal City Elementary School and organized many fundraisers and activities for students. She was particularly beloved by the great teachers of the school and they were often fond of her homemade treats sent to school with her children, especially her Christmas cookies. Nan was also a Girl Scout leader for her daughter's scouting troop for a number of years organizing and leading many educational trips and activities. But Nan's most important and cherished role was always her devotion to her children. Her many meals from scratch whether it was breakfast, lunch or dinner were always ready before leaving for school, coming home for lunch each school day in high school or when getting home after football, volleyball, basketball or baseball practice. The favorite meals and recipes and dishes and desserts that Nan made filled up many pages of a cookbook. Nan was also an expert at the art of sewing. She would often make clothes for her children and other items for family use. In fact, she even made clothes for her sons' G.I. Joe toys. During this time, Nan also did administrative office work for George in his role as an agency manager for State Farm. Additionally, Nan planned and hosted many years' worth of annual parties for the State Farm agents George managed and traveled frequently around the United States and the World on State Farm-related trips.

Nan was the ultimate sports fan and sports mom. Growing up in Greenwood, during the Summers, while her father was at work, Nan would often listen to the radio and keep score of St. Louis Cardinal games being played on the radio so that when her father came home from work he wouldn't have to wait until the next day's paper to look at the box score of the game. In later years, Nan always loved to listen to the Cardinals and other programming on the great KMOX Radio station in St. Louis. Being married to a former Razorback football player, but also a lifelong Hog fan herself, Nan was always rooting the Hogs on to victory whether watching a game on TV, or she and George attending games in Fayetteville and Little Rock. But to be the mother of two Razorback football players from 1979 to 1987, well, let's just say she was in Hog Heaven. Nan did not miss many of her sons' home football games and made a number of away games and made all of the 8 bowl games they played in during those years. But it wasn't just her two sons who were involved in college sports, as Nan was just as proud of her daughter who attended the University of Missouri and was the student manager for 4 years for the women's basketball program and later, an assistant basketball coach for the Lady Tigers and in the ABL and WNBA women's professional basketball leagues.

In the 1990's, Nan started a nearly 15-year career as a real estate agent for Century 21 Real Estate in Crystal City and the surrounding area. She enjoyed this vocation immensely, helping homebuyers and particularly new families moving to the area and telling them all about the community and region she had adopted as home and knew so well.

In 1989, her first grandchild, Jake was born and was followed in short order by two more grandsons, Sam in 1991 and Joe in 1993. Having a special love for young children, she was a frequent visitor to Little Rock to enjoy various activities of the grandsons and help out with babysitting and other needs. In 1997, her fourth and final grandson, Luc was born. With Luc and his family living much of the time in Orange County, California and Champaign, Illinois, Nan was a frequent traveler to those locales for many fun visits. Nan was elated once again when she had another Razorback in the family when Jake was playing for Arkansas and keenly followed his career whether at a game or watching on TV. Following Jake's college and pro football career, Nan was able to enjoy yet another college football career when Luc started playing football for the California Golden Bears. On one of her last trips in 2016, she was able to see Luc and his Cal Bear teammates defeat the Texas Longhorns. And one of the most special highlights for Nan and her grandchildren was last year when she was able to attend Sam's wedding to his wife, Lexi, held in Indiana, Pennsylvania. It was a truly proud moment for her to see one of her grandsons married.

We are so proud of our Mom's life in many ways. But we are especially grateful for how, in the ''fourth quarter'' of her life, she readily opened her heart to Jesus Christ as her personal Lord and Savior. She became a member of the Good News Community Church in Festus, Missouri and spent many hours participating in Bible studies, the sewing ministry of the church in which she helped sew items for needy families in the Festus-Crystal City area, and thoroughly enjoying her Sunday morning worship services pastored by Jack King and his staff. In the end, our Mom ''fought the good fight and finished the race'' and was victorious.

Nan is survived by two sons, Jay Bequette (Cindy) and Chris Bequette, both of Little Rock, Arkansas and a daughter, Missy Bequette of Seattle, Washington; one sister-in-law, Illma Ann Mack of Crystal City, Missouri; four grandsons, Jake Bequette of Fort Benning, Georgia, Sam Bequette (Lexi) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Joe Bequette of Little Rock and Luc Bequette of Little Rock/Berkeley, California; and many other family and friends whose friendship she enjoyed through the years.

A private family service and inurnment will be held in the columbarium at St. Andrew's Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Greenwood Public Schools, the Good News Community Church or an institution of one's choosing.

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1 Condolence(s)
Cindy Hyde Bedwell
Pocola, OK
Liked
Wednesday, October 10, 2018

Jay, Missy, Chris I was saddened to learn of Aunt Nan's passing. Our mom's made it hard to stay close as we grew up. I remember the times you all would come visit Grandma and Grandpa McConnell. Fun times when we were young kids. May you all find peace and comfort during this time. You all are in my thoughts and prayers. Your cousin, Cindy.