Published: September 05, 2008 09:57 am            

Frances Banister Nooner scholarship established at CHS

The Frances Banister Nooner Scholarship, honoring the memory of a wife, mother, grandmother and friend who gave generously of her time to others, has been established at Cleburne High School.

The $25,000 scholarship endowment was presented by Curtis Nooner in memory of his wife of 38 years.

“She was the finest person that ever lived — she really was,” Nooner said. “She was a caring person who just had millions of friends. I don’t know anyone who didn’t love her.”

Fran Nooner died in 2003 after a long battle with breast cancer.

The Nooners met in Arkansas and married in 1966. They soon moved to Cleburne, where Fran had spent her childhood. Her father was owner of Baker Brothers Lumber Company, which was located on the south side of the Johnson County Courthouse for a number of years.

After their move to Cleburne, the Nooners joined Anglin Street Presbyterian Church, which later became First United Presbyterian. Fran quickly became involved in various church activities, as well as PTA, with both her daughters — Karen Banister Strack, CHS class of 1968, and Connie Banister Chitwood, CHS class of 1971, attending Cleburne schools.

Their work with the church’s youth group led to what would become a lifetime friendship between the Nooners and Gary and Patricia Lillard.

“They helped us with youth activities,” Patricia Lillard said. “That’s how we got acquainted with them.

“Fran was one of the kindest persons I’ve ever known. She was always even-tempered. I never saw her ‘riled up.’ She was always a sweet, gentle person.”

The Nooners would go on to become godparents to the Lillards’ sons, Kelly and Patrick.

“We did a lot of things together,” Patricia Lillard said. “Curtis and Fran — we loved them both. I think it is wonderful and so appropriate to have a scholarship established in Fran’s memory. She was always willing to help anyone in any way she could.”

Establishing a scholarship at CHS for his late wife has been on Nooner’s mind for some time.

He and Fran eventually moved to Fort Worth, placing him closer to his work at Southwest Land and Title Company, where he was a founding partner.

But Cleburne has remained dear to his heart because of the many friendships made here.

“I always talked about a scholarship in memory of Fran,” he said. “She was such a caring person. The grandkids called her ‘Nana,’ and after a while we all called her that.”

“One of our family sayings was ‘everybody loves Nana,’ ” Nooner said.

Chitwood, who now resides in Benbrook, also remembers her mother’s work as a community and church volunteer, including her leadership of the Bible study program at First Presbyterian of Fort Worth.

“She studied nursing in San Antonio and was an R.N.,” Chitwood said. “We always teased that she never drew a paycheck but worked all the time to help others. All the work she did was as a volunteer — at the hospital, at church, wherever she was needed.”

“I remember when they came out with the oral polio vaccine,” Chitwood said. “She helped with the distribution.”

Chitwood also remembers her mother’s activities as a docent at the Amon Carter Museum after her parents’ move to Fort Worth. Frances Nooner was also active in the Women’s Club of Fort Worth.

Chitwood, who will work with the selection committee in the annual awarding of the $1,000 Frances Banister Nooner Scholarship, said her mother would be pleased an endowment had been established in her memory — to help students.

“It’s a warm feeling to help someone advance in life, to have the opportunity to help someone attend college, and hopefully have a better life,” Chitwood said. “My mother would be so delighted with this.”

Chitwood, who has helped others in her own way as an educator and a social worker, is also proud to see her mother’s desire to help others continue on through the scholarship.

“When I was a high school art teacher, I encountered a lot of kids who would not be able to go on to college because of a lack of finances,” she said. “It took a lot of work, but we were able to get some of them art scholarships to go to college. I have been around this before — seeing kids who wanted to go on to college so badly but didn’t have a lot of options. I know this scholarship will make a difference for Cleburne graduates in the years to come.”

Cleburne High School Principal Monte Pritchett calls the Frances Banister Nooner Scholarship an opportunity.

“An endowment such as this will give some of our students an opportunity to continue their education,” Pritchett said. “It makes an impact on our students.”

“Last year, $2.5 million in scholarships were awarded to our graduates,” he said. “I’ve never been in a district and a community with a scholarship program like this. It gives kids such tremendous opportunities.”

Academic achievement will play part in the scholarship selection process, Curtis Nooner said, but need will also be factor, reflecting his wife’s lifelong desire to help and serve others.

“We are pleased to be able to help Cleburne graduates achieve their dream of enrolling in a Texas college or university,” Nooner said. “We are happy to do this in memory of Fran.”

        

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