FRANCES ALMETA WOODRUFF SIMIEN, 78, of Bakers-
field, CA passed away on Aug. 5, 2016, with burial
at Suisun-Fairfield Cemetery in Fairfield.
Frances Woodruff was born in 1937 in Cameron TX to
Luther Woodruff & Francis Rose. She attended Ranger
High School at Ranger, TX in the Class of 1959 and
married Clarence M. Simien in Nov. of 1962 at Ranger.
He preceded her in death on Aug. 6, 2004.
Frances worked many different jobs throughout her
life. She was a housekeeper for the Flamingo Hotel
in Santa Rosa, CA and Guest Housing at Travis Air
Force Base in Fairfield CA. She was a hospital
Equipment Cleaning Technician at Veterans Hospital
in Denver CO. She was a wonderful cook and used
that skill as a volunteer for fund raising events
in her church. She worked with her husband in their
Vacuum Cleaning Supply & Repair Shops in Vacaville
and Suisun City, CA before retiring in 2004. She
was a devoted wife & mother, loving sister, & true
friend to everyone in her life. She was generous,
had a great sense of humor, and had a good sense of
style.
Survivors at the time of her death are: Daughter-
Yolanda Simien in Bakersfield, CA; Sister-Jean
Woodruff (RHS-1964) in Ranger; Mother-Francis
Woodruff in Ranger; Brother-Luther Woodruff (RHS-
1960) in Radcliff, KY; and numerous nieces and
nephews in California, Kentucky, Virginia, Georgia,
and Louisiana.
She was preceded in death by husband of 39 years,
Clarence Simien, father Luther Woodruff, her
sisters Alberta and Betty Woodruff, and brother
James L. Woodruff (RHS-1962).
HUSBAND: CLARENCE SIMIEN, 71, of Suisun City
died on Aug. 6, 2004, in Napa following a short
illness, with military honors burial in Suisun-
Fairfield Cemetery.
Born March 29, 1933, in Lake Charles, La., he resided
in Suisun City for 17 years. He served in the U.S.
Air Force, was a veteran of the Korean & Vietnam wars,
retired in 1972 at ENT Air Force Base in Colorado
Springs, Colo., as a staff sergeant. He worked in
civil service for 13 years at Travis Air Force Base
from 1978-1987. He then owned & operated Vaca Valley
Vacuum until retiring in October 2003. He was a
member of F&AM Stanley Y.
Beverly Lodge #108, Suisun. He held numerous offices
with the lodge. He was Past Worshipful Master of Pikes
Peak Masonic Lodge in Colorado. He was a member of
the Royal Arch Mason, Grand Commandry, Consistory,
Shriners Alooma Temple #212 and was nominated for
his 33rd degree.
Mr. Simien is survived by his wife, Frances Simien
of Suisun City; daughter, Yolanda Simien of Fairfield;
sisters, Ethel Hardy of Louisiana and Versa Dancy of
Los Angeles; brothers, Ivory, Thomas and Roger Simien,
all of Los Angeles, and Lawrence Simien of Oakland.
MOTHER: FRANCIS WILLIAMS WOODRUFF passed away on
Sept. 16, 2018, at her home in Ranger TX, with
burial in the Evergreen Cemetery at Ranger. Francis
lived a long and venerable life and was 100 years
when the deterioration of her health overtook her.
Francis was born on March 23, 1918, in Jones Prairie,
TX in Milam county. Her parents were Dave William &
Frances Turner Williams. She was one of eleven
children: Anna Perryman, Annie Williams, Sarah
Moore, Dave Williams, Dave Rose, Grant Rose, Levi
Williams, Delie Owens, Walter Williams, & Henrietta
Armstrong.
She married Luther Woodruff in Oct. of 1934, and they
spent 63 years together until his death in 1997. They
had six children: Alberta, Frances, Luther, James,
Betty Nadine, and Arma Jean.
Francis was a hard worker and was role model to her
family. Besides being a wife and mother, she worked
for Southwestern Bell for 30 years before retiring in
March 18, 1983. She also did domestic work for various
families in Ranger, Texas. She enjoyed gardening. She
took great pride in her yard which was always green
and filled with flowers and pecan trees every spring,
summer, and fall. Her backyard was often a vegetable
garden. She was a member of the Ranger Garden Club.
She was a deeply religious woman and enjoyed memberships
at the Macedonia Baptist Church, Eastside Baptist Church,
and the First Baptist Church of Ranger during her lifetime.
She was generous to anyone in need and loved cooking for
church dinners. She always wore her best clothes to church,
which included a lovely hat. She believed one should look
their best to honor God and to thank Him for His blessings.
As her health deteriorated her deepest regret was not being
able to go to church on Sundays.
She was preceded in death by her husband Luther, her daughters
Alberta, Frances, and Betty Nadine, her son James, and her
brother and sisters Anna, Annie, Sarah, Dave, Grant, Levi,
Delie, and Walter. Through all this loss she remained the
cornerstone of her family.
She is survived by her son Luther, daughter Arma Jean, her
grandchildren: Yolanda, Michael, Michelle, and Shaun, her
great-grandchildren: Amanda, Dontre, Makayla, and Martin,
her sister Henrietta, five great-grandchildren, & numerous
nieces and nephews. Francis Woodruff was and is loved and
will be greatly missed.