ARNOLD MOORE & NEEKAMP FUNERAL HOME, BARTLESVILLE, OK (918) 336-5225 -

Frances H. Vermeire, age 96, passed away on Sunday, March 26, 2017, at her daughter’s home in Owasso, Oklahoma.

Frances Henrietta Adams was born on June 14, 1920. She was the daughter of LeRoy L. Adams and Frances Margaret (Crawford) Adams.

Frances was around 13 years old when she left the family home, living with two different families, first taking care of an asthmatic youngster for the Mathis family. After that, she cared for the Mayland family’s daughter. She cooked, cleaned, took care of the children and did the shopping, while still managing to graduate high school. She was always a hard worker and very loyal. In fact, one of her employers offered to send her to college, but she declined as she was, at that time, helping with her immediate family.

After graduation from high school, Frances and Marcel L. Vermeire were united in marriage and remained a married couple for 72 years prior to Marcel’s death. They raised a family of two girls and three boys.

Frances and Marcel were long-time members of the First Baptist Church of Dewey, where she spent 46 years teaching Sunday School. She not only taught her own children about the Lord, but she taught hundreds of other children each and every Sunday about Christ, our Lord and Savior. Frances was a very devout Christian.

After her youngest child reached Jr. High, she went to work for Montgomery Ward. When that job ended, she became employed with Finch’s Book and China. After Finch’s, she became an employee of J.C. Penney as a Sales Auditor, where she retired. All in all, aside from raising her children, she worked outside the family home for 20 years.

Survivors include her children, Sandy Russell and her husband, John, of Owasso; Jack Vermeire of Louisiana; Frank Vermeire and Tom Vermeire and his wife, Dana, both of Dewey; and Linda Pieske and her husband, Herm, of Oregon; 17 grandchildren; 38 great grandchildren; and nine great-great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Laura Tharp, Ruth Hallman and Dot Rainwater.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Frances’ memory be made to First Baptist Church, 300 E. 10th St., Dewey, OK 74029.

Come and go visitation will be held on Wednesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM-8:00 PM in the Arnold Moore & Neekamp Funeral Home, 710 S. Dewey Ave. Family will be present to greet friends on Thursday from 6:00-8:00 PM.

Services for Mrs. Vermeire will be held on Friday at 2:00 PM in the Dewey First Baptist Church, 300 E. 10th St., Dewey, Oklahoma. Pastor Mark Wright will officiate. Interment will follow the service in Memorial Park Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Arnold Moore and Neekamp Funeral Home. Online condolences may be sent to www.honoringmemories.com

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