Francis Joyce Read McPherson

Francis Joyce Read McPherson, 3/29/1937 to 11/19/2021

Born in Conroe, Texas to Pearl Krzywosinski Read and Edwin Read, Fran was the third child of five. She was the first person in her family to finish high school and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree and a teaching certificate from the University of Texas at Austin in 1961. In Austin that year, she met and married David McPherson, a graduate student in the English Department. David and Fran were the parents of two daughters, Laurie and Kathryn. Fran died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease on November 19, 2021 at home and in the company of her family. 

A recluse who loved throwing parties, Fran was a lovely and fierce woman of unusual talents. She was a legendarily good cook, furious reader, highly skilled seamstress for her kids, grandkids, and many dolls, a talented quilter, lover of Jane Austen, and passionate traveler. Fran taught full-time for a year at San Marcos High School and later worked for many years as a popular substitute teacher for the Albuquerque Public Schools. She was a longtime volunteer at the Corrales Community Library. Her spirit was indomitable.

Fran was preceded in death by her parents, as well as her brother Edwin Read, Jr, her sister Laura Williamson, and her brother Finis Read. She is survived by David, her husband of 60 years; daughter Laurie and her wife Teresa Philips; daughter Kate and her husband Michael Nagro; granddaughter, Miranda Read McPherson. She is also survived by her younger sister and best friend, Helen Simons and Helen’s daughter, Ellie Simons, who was like another daughter to her, as well as many other nieces and nephews.

A memorial service is scheduled for 2:30 PM, Saturday January 15, 2022 at the historic Old San Ysidro Church at 996 Old Church Road in Corrales.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be dedicated to the Friends of the Corrales Community Library.