On a cool Fall day, Tuesday, October 10, 1944, the first child born to Thomas Lee and Freda Gay Baker Armstrong came into the world at 10:50 a.m. at the Keys-Houston Clinic Hospital in Murray, Kentucky. The baby girl was a healthy 7 pounds 13 ounces and 20 inches long. Later on, Freda enter the following details in the baby book, "she was not very red and had little fat cheeks and had a fair complexion.
Frances grew up on the family farm on Kelso Road southwest of Lynn Grove, Kentucky. She loved being outdoors and playing with all the animals including her little white Spitz dog. In fact, her first words were "heah puppy". Frances enjoyed riding the mule and going with her Daddy to the field to block down the middles of the tobacco rows. She would ride on the block and feel the cool dirt roll over her feet. With no insulated water jugs in those days, her Mom would fill a glass jug with ice and water and pack it in a paper bag. Frances would run to the back of the farm to deliver a cool drink to her Daddy. He often said he loved to see Frances (with white hair flying) coming across the field with that cool water!
At the age of five Frances entered the first grade at Lynn Grove Elementary School. This wa just the beginning of her life-long love of learning. However, on October 6, 1950 her experiences with all her friends in the first grade came to a halt. Frances was diagnosed with poliomyelitis in Murray and transferred to Children's Hospital in Louisville. She missed her first grade year, but with her Mother's help she went on to the second grade the next year. Wearing a brace and using crutches for several years was a part of her life. After her sophomore year at Lynn Grove High School, the county schools were consolidated and Frances entered Calloway County High School. There she discovered her love for two possible careers--teaching and secretarial work. After graduating from high school in 1962, Frances enrolled at Murray State College for the summer semester. As she worked toward a Bachelor of Science degree with an Area in Business Education, she worked part time in the Dean of Student's Office with the Student Financial Aid program. January of 1966 was graduation time and she was hired as a Secretary to Dr. Ralph H. Woods, President of Murray State. In the spring of 1968 a position for a business teacher came open at Calloway County High School and Frances taught there until 1971. The Murray Area Vocational School was built in 1971 and Frances moved to a position as business teacher there.
A new stage of Frances' life began on October 10, 1972 when she married her best friend and the love of her life, Eugene Ray Spillman. Gene was a Kentucky State Policeman assigned to the Governor's Mansion guarding Governor and Mrs. Wendell Ford. After the wedding, the Spillmans lived in Frankfort for a year before Gene was transferred to Graves County. At that time, they moved back to Calloway County to a farm on Kelso Road. They have lived here working and playing together with a total of 7 white German Shepherds. Sparky came in 1973 and Frosty came in 2016.
In 1981 Frances began her last employment as a Program Assistant with the Farm Service Agency under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This position lasted for almost 23 years until her retirement December 31, 2004.
Frances became a Christian when she was baptized in 1955 at Williams Chapel Church of Christ where she attended growing up with her family. She is now a member of the Glendale Road Church of Christ in Murray.
Gene and Frances have enjoyed traveling with their RV, motorcycles and also making car trips! Frances rode with Gene for several years on his 1994 Ultra Glide Harley-Davidson motorcycle touring 5 western states as well as other parts of America. With Gene's help Frances learned to ride alone on a Harley-Davidson trike. Several trips were in their future with Gene on his two-wheel Ultra-Glide and Frances following on her Ultra-Glide trike!
The following poem was read at her service: THE DASH by Linda Ellis - copyright 1996
I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone,
from the beginning---to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars...the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read,
with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent YOUR dash!
Frances grew up on the family farm on Kelso Road southwest of Lynn Grove, Kentucky. She loved being outdoors and playing with all the animals including her little white Spitz dog. In fact, her first words were "heah puppy". Frances enjoyed riding the mule and going with her Daddy to the field to block down the middles of the tobacco rows. She would ride on the block and feel the cool dirt roll over her feet. With no insulated water jugs in those days, her Mom would fill a glass jug with ice and water and pack it in a paper bag. Frances would run to the back of the farm to deliver a cool drink to her Daddy. He often said he loved to see Frances (with white hair flying) coming across the field with that cool water!
At the age of five Frances entered the first grade at Lynn Grove Elementary School. This wa just the beginning of her life-long love of learning. However, on October 6, 1950 her experiences with all her friends in the first grade came to a halt. Frances was diagnosed with poliomyelitis in Murray and transferred to Children's Hospital in Louisville. She missed her first grade year, but with her Mother's help she went on to the second grade the next year. Wearing a brace and using crutches for several years was a part of her life. After her sophomore year at Lynn Grove High School, the county schools were consolidated and Frances entered Calloway County High School. There she discovered her love for two possible careers--teaching and secretarial work. After graduating from high school in 1962, Frances enrolled at Murray State College for the summer semester. As she worked toward a Bachelor of Science degree with an Area in Business Education, she worked part time in the Dean of Student's Office with the Student Financial Aid program. January of 1966 was graduation time and she was hired as a Secretary to Dr. Ralph H. Woods, President of Murray State. In the spring of 1968 a position for a business teacher came open at Calloway County High School and Frances taught there until 1971. The Murray Area Vocational School was built in 1971 and Frances moved to a position as business teacher there.
A new stage of Frances' life began on October 10, 1972 when she married her best friend and the love of her life, Eugene Ray Spillman. Gene was a Kentucky State Policeman assigned to the Governor's Mansion guarding Governor and Mrs. Wendell Ford. After the wedding, the Spillmans lived in Frankfort for a year before Gene was transferred to Graves County. At that time, they moved back to Calloway County to a farm on Kelso Road. They have lived here working and playing together with a total of 7 white German Shepherds. Sparky came in 1973 and Frosty came in 2016.
In 1981 Frances began her last employment as a Program Assistant with the Farm Service Agency under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This position lasted for almost 23 years until her retirement December 31, 2004.
Frances became a Christian when she was baptized in 1955 at Williams Chapel Church of Christ where she attended growing up with her family. She is now a member of the Glendale Road Church of Christ in Murray.
Gene and Frances have enjoyed traveling with their RV, motorcycles and also making car trips! Frances rode with Gene for several years on his 1994 Ultra Glide Harley-Davidson motorcycle touring 5 western states as well as other parts of America. With Gene's help Frances learned to ride alone on a Harley-Davidson trike. Several trips were in their future with Gene on his two-wheel Ultra-Glide and Frances following on her Ultra-Glide trike!
The following poem was read at her service: THE DASH by Linda Ellis - copyright 1996
I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone,
from the beginning---to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars...the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read,
with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent YOUR dash!
On a cool Fall day, Tuesday, October 10, 1944, the first child born to Thomas Lee and Freda Gay Baker Armstrong came into the world at 10:50 a.m. at the Keys-Houston Clinic Hospital in Murray, Kentucky. The baby girl was a healthy 7 pounds 13 ounces and 20 inches long. Later on, Freda enter the following details in the baby book, "she was not very red and had little fat cheeks and had a fair complexion.
Frances grew up on the family farm on Kelso Road southwest of Lynn Grove, Kentucky. She loved being outdoors and playing with all the animals including her little white Spitz dog. In fact, her first words were "heah puppy". Frances enjoyed riding the mule and going with her Daddy to the field to block down the middles of the tobacco rows. She would ride on the block and feel the cool dirt roll over her feet. With no insulated water jugs in those days, her Mom would fill a glass jug with ice and water and pack it in a paper bag. Frances would run to the back of the farm to deliver a cool drink to her Daddy. He often said he loved to see Frances (with white hair flying) coming across the field with that cool water!
At the age of five Frances entered the first grade at Lynn Grove Elementary School. This wa just the beginning of her life-long love of learning. However, on October 6, 1950 her experiences with all her friends in the first grade came to a halt. Frances was diagnosed with poliomyelitis in Murray and transferred to Children's Hospital in Louisville. She missed her first grade year, but with her Mother's help she went on to the second grade the next year. Wearing a brace and using crutches for several years was a part of her life. After her sophomore year at Lynn Grove High School, the county schools were consolidated and Frances entered Calloway County High School. There she discovered her love for two possible careers--teaching and secretarial work. After graduating from high school in 1962, Frances enrolled at Murray State College for the summer semester. As she worked toward a Bachelor of Science degree with an Area in Business Education, she worked part time in the Dean of Student's Office with the Student Financial Aid program. January of 1966 was graduation time and she was hired as a Secretary to Dr. Ralph H. Woods, President of Murray State. In the spring of 1968 a position for a business teacher came open at Calloway County High School and Frances taught there until 1971. The Murray Area Vocational School was built in 1971 and Frances moved to a position as business teacher there.
A new stage of Frances' life began on October 10, 1972 when she married her best friend and the love of her life, Eugene Ray Spillman. Gene was a Kentucky State Policeman assigned to the Governor's Mansion guarding Governor and Mrs. Wendell Ford. After the wedding, the Spillmans lived in Frankfort for a year before Gene was transferred to Graves County. At that time, they moved back to Calloway County to a farm on Kelso Road. They have lived here working and playing together with a total of 7 white German Shepherds. Sparky came in 1973 and Frosty came in 2016.
In 1981 Frances began her last employment as a Program Assistant with the Farm Service Agency under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This position lasted for almost 23 years until her retirement December 31, 2004.
Frances became a Christian when she was baptized in 1955 at Williams Chapel Church of Christ where she attended growing up with her family. She is now a member of the Glendale Road Church of Christ in Murray.
Gene and Frances have enjoyed traveling with their RV, motorcycles and also making car trips! Frances rode with Gene for several years on his 1994 Ultra Glide Harley-Davidson motorcycle touring 5 western states as well as other parts of America. With Gene's help Frances learned to ride alone on a Harley-Davidson trike. Several trips were in their future with Gene on his two-wheel Ultra-Glide and Frances following on her Ultra-Glide trike!
The following poem was read at her service: THE DASH by Linda Ellis - copyright 1996
I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone,
from the beginning---to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars...the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read,
with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent YOUR dash!
Frances grew up on the family farm on Kelso Road southwest of Lynn Grove, Kentucky. She loved being outdoors and playing with all the animals including her little white Spitz dog. In fact, her first words were "heah puppy". Frances enjoyed riding the mule and going with her Daddy to the field to block down the middles of the tobacco rows. She would ride on the block and feel the cool dirt roll over her feet. With no insulated water jugs in those days, her Mom would fill a glass jug with ice and water and pack it in a paper bag. Frances would run to the back of the farm to deliver a cool drink to her Daddy. He often said he loved to see Frances (with white hair flying) coming across the field with that cool water!
At the age of five Frances entered the first grade at Lynn Grove Elementary School. This wa just the beginning of her life-long love of learning. However, on October 6, 1950 her experiences with all her friends in the first grade came to a halt. Frances was diagnosed with poliomyelitis in Murray and transferred to Children's Hospital in Louisville. She missed her first grade year, but with her Mother's help she went on to the second grade the next year. Wearing a brace and using crutches for several years was a part of her life. After her sophomore year at Lynn Grove High School, the county schools were consolidated and Frances entered Calloway County High School. There she discovered her love for two possible careers--teaching and secretarial work. After graduating from high school in 1962, Frances enrolled at Murray State College for the summer semester. As she worked toward a Bachelor of Science degree with an Area in Business Education, she worked part time in the Dean of Student's Office with the Student Financial Aid program. January of 1966 was graduation time and she was hired as a Secretary to Dr. Ralph H. Woods, President of Murray State. In the spring of 1968 a position for a business teacher came open at Calloway County High School and Frances taught there until 1971. The Murray Area Vocational School was built in 1971 and Frances moved to a position as business teacher there.
A new stage of Frances' life began on October 10, 1972 when she married her best friend and the love of her life, Eugene Ray Spillman. Gene was a Kentucky State Policeman assigned to the Governor's Mansion guarding Governor and Mrs. Wendell Ford. After the wedding, the Spillmans lived in Frankfort for a year before Gene was transferred to Graves County. At that time, they moved back to Calloway County to a farm on Kelso Road. They have lived here working and playing together with a total of 7 white German Shepherds. Sparky came in 1973 and Frosty came in 2016.
In 1981 Frances began her last employment as a Program Assistant with the Farm Service Agency under the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This position lasted for almost 23 years until her retirement December 31, 2004.
Frances became a Christian when she was baptized in 1955 at Williams Chapel Church of Christ where she attended growing up with her family. She is now a member of the Glendale Road Church of Christ in Murray.
Gene and Frances have enjoyed traveling with their RV, motorcycles and also making car trips! Frances rode with Gene for several years on his 1994 Ultra Glide Harley-Davidson motorcycle touring 5 western states as well as other parts of America. With Gene's help Frances learned to ride alone on a Harley-Davidson trike. Several trips were in their future with Gene on his two-wheel Ultra-Glide and Frances following on her Ultra-Glide trike!
The following poem was read at her service: THE DASH by Linda Ellis - copyright 1996
I read of a man who stood to speak
at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone,
from the beginning---to the end.
He noted that first came the date of her birth
and spoke of the following date with tears,
but he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between those years.
For that dash represents all the time
that she spent alive on earth.
And now only those who loved her
know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own,
the cars...the house...the cash.
What matters is how we live and love
and how we spend our dash.
So, think about this long and hard.
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough
to consider what's true and real
and always try to understand
the way other people feel.
And be less quick to anger
and show appreciation more
and love the people in our lives
like we've never loved before.
If we treat each other with respect
and more often wear a smile,
remembering that this special dash
might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy is being read,
with your life's actions to rehash...
would you be proud of the things they say
about how you spent YOUR dash!
