Clara Frances McGilvray

Clara Frances McGilvray, having lived a God-filled life, passed away November 13, 2024 at the age of 89. She was born August 30, 1935, to Ruby Edna Kimball Murphy and Harvey Murphy in Shepherd, Texas. She grew up in Cut-N-Shoot, Texas and in 1953 graduated from Conroe High School. She was then married for approximately 17 years to Edwin Duane McGilvray and had two sons Richard and Russell. 

Fran was passionate about sharing the love of our Lord with others wherever she went, and with her loving spirit she led many to know the Lord. As a devout Baptist she was a member of several First Baptist Churches including Kilgore, Conroe, Athens, Midland, and Green Acres in Tyler. Fran will be remembered as a hardworking, fun loving, and caring person. She loved her friends and family very much. She could laugh with her sister Edna for hours, and others would laugh at them laughing together, calling each other “sister”in turn. She had the ability to make others around her laugh with her, even when not understanding why she was originally laughing. She had a contagious laughter around her siblings and always referred to her brothers as “brother” rather than by name. 

She is preceeded in death by her parents, her brothers Clayton Harvey Murphy and Ruben Avil Murphy, and her younger son, Russell Cyril McGilvray.

Local residents of Kilgore may remember Fran as the owner of Mode ‘O Day dress shop on East Main Street. She loved to sell clothing, especially coats. You could be assured to have tried a coat on when in season before leaving her store. In fact, she could sell the clothes off the rack at any garage sale she was hosting. She loved being social. 

Prior to her failing health due to Alzheimer's disease, Fran loved shopping and mani/ pedi’s at the nail salon. She loved reading self-improvement books, and in addition to studying the Holy Bible, she studied the dictionary. Fran was always reading books to improve herself, as well as reading natural cures and remedy books (vinegar for everything). But, most of all she loved reading faith-based books.

Fran deeply loved and is survived by many family members including her older son, Richard Duane McGilvray, and wife Gerri (Gee Gee), her sister Edna Lee Strobush, brother Robert Anderson Murphy and wife Marcia, sisters-in-law Joy Murphy and Martha Murphy. 

Grandchildren include Dustin McGilvray (Adrienne), Cole McGilvray, Aaron McGilvray (Kim), Duana Brashear (James), Rikki McGilvray-Bock (Tim), Karrah McGilvray, Mandy McGilvray, 6 great granddaughters, 2 great grandsons, 5 bonus great grandchildren and one great great granddaughter by marriage, numerous nieces and nephews and great nieces and nephews. 

While our hearts are sad, we rejoice that Fran is running, singing, and of course laughing with our Savior Jesus Christ. She will be fondly remembered and forever loved.  The family would like to thank Ashton Medical Lodge of Midland, Arbor Grace of Kilgore, and Hospice of East Texas for the wonderful care of our mother, sister, grandmother, great grandmother, and aunt Fran during the progression of her illness. 

Join us for a celebration of her life at Rader Funeral Home in Kilgore, Texas on Wednesday November 20, beginning with visitation from 1:30 pm service time at 3:00. Interment will be privately held at Arnold Cemetery in Alto, Texas. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her name to the following: Alzheimer’s Association at http://act.alz.org>donate The Hospice of East Texas 4111 University Blvd, Tyler, TX 75711 at https:// hospiceofeasttexas.org/giving/honor/ 

John 11:25-26 …I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he dies, yet shall he live.