Frances Mitchell

Frances Ruth (Peach) Mitchell, 76, of Lonoke, passed away on March 16, 2023. She was born in Orville, IN on January 20, 1947 to Estes Earl Peach and Betty Lois (Shelton) Guess. Frances grew up in Indiana before moving to Arkansas as an adult in the 1970’s.

Frances spent most of her life working in different restaurants and truck stops as a waitress, much of that time being at Perry’s Restaurant in Lonoke. She was loved by many of the local patrons because of her outgoing personality.

Listening to music and dancing were some of her favorite things. During the 1980’s she could be found at Whitaker’s in Scott, AR with her sisters putting an endless number of quarters in the jukebox.  Another one of her other favorite things was taking Sunday drives down backroads, of course with her music playing. If the radio went out, she would pack up the boom box, then hit the road.

As the eldest child, her siblings describe her as being their little mother, in addition to being very smart in school and an avid reader­­­--she was able to read a book in only a few hours that would take most people days.

Along with her parents, Frances is preceded in death by two sisters, Melva and Linda.

Frances is survived by her children, Joe Wilson, Betty Ann Decker(Adam), Gary Wilson(Tammy), Lisa Simmons(Heath), Billie Jo Lawson, and Misty Petrus(Wesley); 13 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; sisters, Diane Turner, Barbara Anderson(Ralph), Kaye Willey(Earl) and Tammy Peach; and brothers, Charles Peach(Billy) and Paul Scott.

Her family is especially grateful for her caregivers at Lonoke Health and Rehab, many of which have grown to love “Frannie”.  In addition to being her caregivers, they were sometimes her friend, as well as peace maker on days when Frances was particularly feisty.

Visitation will begin at 10 A.M. prior to the Memorial service at 11 A.M. on Saturday, March 25, 2023

at Boyd Funeral Home chapel in Lonoke, Arkansas.