Frances Halter

Honoring a Cherished Member of Our Family It is with profound gratitude for a life beautifully lived and abundant in God’s love that we share the peaceful passing of Frances Halter at the age of 97. Frances passed away on June 10th at home, surrounded by love. Henry P Mathieu and Edna Rebecca Morgan met and married while attending Rice University. They had a son and 4 daughters. Frances Lucretia Mathieu was born on June 20, 1928, just a few minutes after her twin sister, Ruth, to the surprised delight of their parents. The hospital staff was agog over the identical twins at 7lbs each with bright red hair. The twins continued to amaze everyone with their remarkable likeness and delighted friends and family with their joyful spirits, playful twin antics, and true stories of fun and folly. As young teenagers, Frances and Ruth performed their soft-shoe tap dance for USO troops in Corpus Christi before their father was transferred to Pampa, where they later graduated from high school. Frances later met and married Jake Halter, a University of Tulsa quarterback and punter who was preparing for a career in coaching. After several moves throughout the Texas Panhandle, they eventually settled in Amarillo. Frances embraced life as a devoted cheerleader and coach’s wife, bringing warmth, creativity, and resourcefulness to everything she did. She found meaningful ways to support her family, including teaching dance at her Arthur Murray studio. She met every challenge with prayer and faith, confident that a good solution would come. While raising her family, Frances attended college part-time and graduated summa cum laude from West Texas State University with a degree in education and special certification as a reading specialist. She spent many fulfilling years helping children discover the joy of reading. In 1974, after moving to the Austin area, Jake and Frances began building their Amway business part-time. They quickly proved to be strong partners in this new venture: Jake brought his coaching skills, steady commitment, and investment of time and resources, while Frances brought her gift for making new friends and inspiring others to believe their dreams could come true. Within just four years, they reached the Diamond level and achieved the financial freedom they had been seeking. They built their dream home in the Bentwater community on the north shore of Lake Conroe, about 50 miles north of Houston. There, they enjoyed many happy years welcoming family and friends from across the country. Frances lovingly cared for Jake in that home during his final years. Their son and his wife, L.J. and Carol Halter, traveled from Colorado twice a year to play golf with Frances and his siblings. Frances’s three daughters and their families moved to Bentwater to support her: Linda and Bob Best with their son, Matthew; Jean and Frank Lauters; and Rebecca and Tim Tesch. Frances’s brother and his wife, Pinky and Toni Mathieu, also lived in Bentwater, as did her widowed sisters: twin sister, Ruth Moser, and her youngest sister, Katie Ortiz, and her children— Jan and Ramon Martinez; Keith and Alexandra Ortiz; and David Ortiz. Together, they filled those years with family, companionship, and fun. A Life Full of Friendship, Activity, and Gratitude Frances cherished the friendships she built through her Amway team and with friends around the world. She also loved playing league tennis, where she inspired teammates with her youthful vigor and ageless outlook. Her tennis friends especially enjoyed potluck gatherings at her home, where she prepared what many called the best barbecue brisket they had ever tasted. Friends traveled from other cities and joined her many Bentwater friends, including the ladies of Harborview, to celebrate her 95th birthday. Frances and her two sisters also played golf almost every day and shared a love of travel. Together, they enjoyed trips to London, Germany, Austria, Spain, Italy, Mexico, Caribbean Islands, Hawaii, and many other destinations across the United States. In recent years, while reflecting on the passing of her sisters, Frances remarked that they had all lived such wonderful lives that all she could feel was gratitude. Having outlived her husband, all her siblings, and many of her Amway teammates, she often mused that it was a blessing she had made so many younger friends—and that she fit right in with them.

She loved and enjoyed her six grandchildren, playing golf and tennis with them, watching their sporting events, and inspiring them with her belief in them, her encouragement, and her promise of finding joy. Nothing delighted her more than visits with her 10 great-grandchildren, with hugs, stories, dancing, and laughter. Frances was known for her infectious spirit and her favorite saying: “If you’re not having fun, you’re doing it wrong.” She leaves behind a legacy of faith, friendship, and joy—one that will continue to inspire our family for years to come. There will not be a public service. If you would like to honor Frances, please consider planting a tree or making a donation to your favorite charity. Most of all, the best way to honor her life is to continue living ours fully—with gratitude, joy, and love. We would love to see any photos you have; you can share with Linda Best by text or WhatsApp @ 936-523-0713 If you would like to send a card, please use this address: Linda Best 358 Camden Hls W Montgomery, TX 77356