Mary Frances Lighty

Mary Frances Hilton Lighty, 95, of Beaumont, died Sunday, January 5, 2025.  She was affectionately known as “Frank” by her husband, “Frances” by her friends, and most endearingly as “MeMa” by her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was born on March 19, 1929, in Laurel, Mississippi, and was the second to youngest of 10 children.  When asked what her favorite memory was, she said, “my brother Thomas bringing me wildflowers when I was a child growing up in Mississippi.”

Frances attended Ole Miss on scholarship as the head majorette and graduated from Southern Mississippi University. In 1955, she married Duane Richard Lighty in Selma, Alabama.  Duane served in the United States Army, and after his honorable discharge, they moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, where they started a family. Richard Michael was born in 1958, and Donald Francis in 1960. Over the course of their marriage, they lived in Lafayette, Louisiana, and Arlington, Texas where they eventually retired. Following the death of her husband, Frances moved to Beaumont in 2017 to be closer to family.

Frances was a high school teacher for nearly 30 years, teaching English, Literature, and Journalism. She taught at both Acadiana High School and Cathedral-Carmel High School in Lafayette, Louisiana, as well as Bowie High School in Arlington, Texas. She absolutely loved teaching and adored (most) of her students and talked fondly of them well after retirement. There were the select few for whom she had choice words, but far and above, she loved them all. By chance, long after her retirement, her son ran into one of her students who said, “Mrs. Lighty told me that I had the attention span of a spastic flea!” She loved Shakespeare and poetry. Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman were among her favorites. She often quoted each with great enthusiasm.

Upon retirement, she and her husband loved traveling the globe. She would spend weeks before a trip reading and studying everything she could about their upcoming adventure. She would have every destination well mapped, making sure she knew how to navigate the area before arrival. Of course, she was known as “the teacher” on their excursions! After returning home, she would meticulously put together photo albums so she could “go back again” anytime she wanted.

Her grandsons were the absolute joys of her life. Affectionately referred to by them as “Mema”, there was nothing she would not do for them. When her grandsons were young, and she was in her 70’s, she took them regularly to Six Flags Over Texas amusement park in Arlington where they lived. Before allowing them to climb to great heights on roller coasters or be swung through the air on high flying swings she would “test” out the ride first herself, before allowing them the thrill.  In the evenings she would gather all around the TV for a scary movie. The boys would be huddled on the floor wrapped up in blankets, ready to dart underneath at the approach of a flesh-eating dinosaur, or a life-sized spider terrorizing a town!  Not at all appropriate for children of that age by today’s standards but it was hard to tell who loved it most – her or them! So many unforgettable memories were made during trips to MeMa and PaPa’s house!

Her grandsons all attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, just a short drive from MeMa’s house in Arlington. She always had a hot meal and a washing machine waiting for them, not to mention a comfy sofa to take naps on. She would send them on their way with well packaged homemade meals and desserts, but not before telling them, “Give me a ring when you make it back”. Their love for each other was immeasurable, and she will forever remain in their hearts.

Her move to Beaumont also allowed her to spend time with Anna’s family, which included 4 siblings and numerous nieces and nephews, all of whom she thought of as her own. It was also during this time that she enjoyed a special relationship with her granddaughter, Taylor.

Frances is survived by her son, Don Lighty and his wife, Anna; daughter-in-law, Jan Lighty; grandchildren, John Lighty and his wife, Samantha; Matthew Lighty and his wife, Morgan; Willie Lighty and his wife, Margaret; and Taylor Lighty; great-grandchildren, Mia Lighty, Thomas Lighty, Maren Lighty, and Kevin Lighty.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Duane Richard Lighty; her son, Richard Michael Lighty; and her 9 siblings.

Memorial contributions for Mrs. Lighty may be made to Christus Hospital – St. Elizabeth, 2830 Calder Avenue, Beaumont, Texas 77702.

A special thank you to all of her caretakers from Visiting Angels and Compassion Hospice who provided such loving care in her last days.

A private family gathering was held with a celebration of her life.  Cremation arrangements were handled through Broussard’s Crematorium, under the direction of Broussard’s, 2000 McFaddin Avenue, Beaumont.