Lovenia Frances Ripley

Funeral services for Lovenia Frances Ripley of Lufkin will be held Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Jim Housley officiating. Interment will follow at Old Union Cemetery.

Lovenia Frances Ripley was born August 22, 1939 in Centralia, Texas. Lovenia, better known as Frances, joined her family in Heaven Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at the age of 86. She was the daughter of the late John Kendrick and Tina (Martin) Kendrick.

Frances worked at White’s Warehouse as a secretary for many years and later as a secretary for the City of Lufkin Public Works Department, where she eventually retired after many years of service.

Frances loved her family and friends with all her heart. She was kind and generous and was known for her poems that she wrote for her family and friends for special life events. She also sent cards and special notes to encourage family and friends to put their faith in God and give thanks for all he has done for you. If you were her friend, you were truly blessed. She took great care of her friends and loved each one of them. She was a “Friend for Life”.

She and her husband Kenneth, whom she was married to for 67 years, would volunteer to keep their grandchildren on most weekends. Those days were filled with many adventures and special treats for the kids. Frances was a great cook and enjoyed cooking her special recipes for her family and friends. She enjoyed spending summers at the lake house with her kids, grandkids and special friends. She never learned how to swim but she learned how to water ski.

One of her favorite things to do was go to garage sales. We lovingly called her the “Garage Sale Queen”. She would carefully map out her route before heading out. If you were invited to go with her you had to get back in the car quickly at each stop or she would leave you behind. Her home was filled with her many treasures and being the generous person she was she happily shared these treasures with family and friends. She also enjoyed listening to country and gospel music. Even as her memory was starting to fade, she would light up and start to sing remembering all the words to the songs and dance when her favorite music played.

Frances is survived by her daughters, Debra Walsh of Lufkin and Vicki Hernandez of Lufkin; grandchildren and spouses, Doug and Christina Boyd of Lufkin, Micah and Dallas Sharp of Dripping Springs, Texas, and Chris and Mason Garcia of Blanco, Texas; great-grandchildren, Blain Boyd, Shia Boyd, Max Sharp, Jackson Garcia and Olivia Garcia; sister, Carolyn White; and numerous nieces, nephews and other family members.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Kenneth Ripley; granddaughter, Stephanie Boyd; sons-in-law, Michael Walsh and Frank Hernandez; brothers, JC Kendrick, Horace Kendrick, Charles “Buck” Kendrick, Donald Kendrick, and John “Junior” Kendrick; and sisters, Estelle Thompson and Johnie Pitts.

Pallbearers are Doug Boyd, Chris Garcia, Blain Boyd, Dallas Sharp, Terry Pitts, and Derek Linton

The family would like to thank the staff at Pinecrest Lottie Temple unit for their loving care for 4 1/2 years and Hospice in the Pines care team for taking great care of her at the end of her life.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Saturday morning prior to the services.

Memories and condolences may be added, and live webcasting of the services may be viewed, at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.