Mary Frances "Sally" Owen Minnis, 98 of Denton, Texas passed away

peacefully in her home of 66 years surrounded by her loving family on

Saturday, December 14, 2024. She was received into the loving arms of

Jesus on the 27th anniversary of the passing of her husband, Robert

Warren "Bob" Minnis.

Sally was born at her family's home in Collinsville, Texas on February 24,

1926, to Leonidas Leander "Lonnie" Owen and Winnie Davis Saunders

Owen. Her mother selected the nickname "Sally" when her baby brother

couldn't say Mary Frances and she retained it from then on.

She attended grammar school and high school in Collinsville where she

became acquainted with the love of her life, Bob. They had their first date

when she was 18, and after graduating high school she briefly attended the

University of Texas at Austin only to return home to marry Bob on April 15,

1945, in Denison, Texas. Later in life he told her she was a "Good

Christmas Mother". When she would purchase a new dress, he would

comment "It's pretty, but it's not red" – the color he always preferred that

she wear. They treasured their 52 years of married life and lived it to the

fullest.

Bob, and Sally's dad Lonnie built their first home in Denton where they

began their family with sons Steve and Randy, and daughter Kathy. In

1958 they built the home Mimi forever loved and never wanted to leave and

where she lived until her passing.

They were faithful members of Asbury United Methodist Church of Denton,

where she was president of the Women's Society, and he served in various

leadership roles. She was an active member of First United Methodist

Church of Denton from 2000 to the present.

When Sally's youngest child Kathy was in kindergarten, she enrolled in

Texas Woman's University and completed her bachelor's degree in

elementary education and a master's degree in guidance and counseling

and received an administrator's certification. She worked for Denton

Independent School District for 21 years. Her first and favorite position was

when she taught 4th grade at Woodrow Wilson Elementary (now Nette

Shultz Elementary) for five years. After obtaining her master's degree, she

was an elementary counselor and served as assistant to the principal at

Ginnings Elementary and later, counselor at other elementary schools in

Denton.

Lovingly known as "Mimi" by her family, she was actively involved in the

lives of her children and their spouses, eleven grandchildren, fifteen great-

grandchildren, and six great-great grandchildren. Mimi has been a "hands-

on" positive and loving matriarch to our family and her guidance and

wisdom will live on in many generations to come. She will be greatly

missed yet greatly remembered for the remarkable person she was in all

our lives.

She was preceded in death by her parents Lonnie and Winnie, husband,

Robert Warren Minnis; 3 grandsons Cameron Marshall Minnis, Chad

Hunter Belcher, and Kyle Christian Belcher; brothers Fred Owen and Bob

Owen; sisters Nora Jarnagin Nichols and Pat Ginnings; niece Janet

LaCroix; and nephew Mike Jarnagin. Fred served his country and

courageously gave his life during WWII and is entombed on the USS

Arizona in Pearl Harbor Honolulu.

Mimi is survived by her son Robert Steven Minnis and wife Brenda of

Denton, son Randall Lee Minnis and wife Shelley of Pottsboro, Texas and

daughter Mary Kathryn Belcher and husband Brad of Corinth, Texas, and

her brother Kenneth Owen and his wife Nancy of Weatherford, Texas. She

is also survived by grandchildren Kay Minnis, Lee Minnis, Robert Minnis,

Tanner Minnis (Katie), Gavin Minnis (Tina), Ryan Belcher, Bret Belcher

(Kim), Matt Belcher (Samantha), and Heather Belcher Heffington. She is

survived by great grandchildren Cody Minnis, Trenton Minnis, Tyler Minnis,

Kyra Pedroche, Kynzie Minnis, Kygan Minnis, Elora Apple, Alexa Minnis,

Keylan Minnis, Phoebe Minnis, Tessa Minnis, Hailey Belcher, Harper

Belcher, Holland Belcher, and Julia Belcher; and great-great grandchildren

Nikolas Pedroche, Atlas Pedroche, Griffin Pedroche, Dean Minnis, Piper

Minnis, and Adeline Apple; and nieces Susan Ginnings Puckett and Anne

Prince, and nephews Craig Owen of Malasia and Keith Owen of San Saba,

Texas.

Her family is eternally grateful for the loving caregivers who assisted mom

in living out her dream of remaining in her home to the end; and to the

organizations they represent. Tammy Laswell, who fondly referred to Mimi

as "Sally Gurl" was her friend, companion, encourager, and prayer partner.

and always had mom's best interest at heart. Our heartfelt thanks and

gratitude also to Olivia, Terri, Michael, and Heather of Unlimited Care of

North Texas, Inc. and to our friends at Concho Hearts Hospice who made

Mom's life comfortable: Desiree, Gy Gy, Traci, and Tim; and to Maria

"Daisy" Vasquez who helped with her home care.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 2,

2025, at the First United Methodist Church of Denton, 201 S. Locust,

Denton, TX 76209 with Co-Lead Pastor Scott Gilliland and Don Lee (retired

FUMC Pastor) officiating.

Online condolences may be made at www.mulkeybowlesmontgomery.com.

In lieu of flowers, you may like to consider one of Mimi's favorite charities

First United Methodist Church Denton and Scottish Rite for Children or

other charities of your choice.