Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home

Frances Rootes Edwards

December 21, 1936     ~     January 19, 2012

Frances Rootes Edwards, a gentle and kind spirit, returned to her origins Thursday night, January 19, 2012 at her home as the result of an illness. She was 75 years old. Frances was the daughter of the late Mary Hereford Lykins and Edgar Rootes, both artists who met at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Art. After thirteen years of marriage, Frances, their only child was born December 21, 1936 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her grandparents were the late Isaac Newton Lykins and Mollie Hereford Hatcher of Glasgow. She had lived in Glasgow since 1945.

At age 13, Frances identified with the First United Methodist Church of Glasgow and remained a faithful member until her death. She had served as president of all three women’s missionary circles at the church and had conducted a Wednesday morning Bible Study for several years until she became ill. Frances enjoyed being part of the congregation’s visitation team through which she visited many persons in hospitals, nursing homes and private homes.

Frances was a member of the Glasgow High School class of 1953. She attended Centre College of Kentucky where she earned a degree in English and History in 1957.
As a student at Glasgow High School she was a noted tennis player and was the Glasgow City Champion. She also played tennis for Centre College, earning numerous trophies. She was a champion table tennis player in her youth, winning the Kentucky championship as well as the Mid-South Table Tennis Tournament in Memphis, where she played on live television.

For a time, Frances taught English at Glasgow High School. She later taught part-time and had taught in every Glasgow school and in every grade at some point. She was noted for maintaining high expectations of her students during her teaching years. A life-long lover of good music, Frances was an accomplished pianist, having studied under Mrs. Alanson Trigg and Mrs. Fielding Boles. She joined the Glasgow Ladies Matinee Musicale in 1957 and remained a member at the time of her death.

Frances was a friend to animals throughout her life and was known for caring for animals in need. While she had many pets throughout her life, she was most fond of her manx cat, “Baby,” who preceded her in death. She was a member of the Jefferson Homemakers Club.

On September 1, 1972, Frances married Willard Edwards, a widower.
Mr. Edwards preceded her in death in 1992. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved aunt, Emma Lykins Wood; her uncles John and his wife Modine, Herman, Bruce, Garrett and Owen Lykins.

Frances is survived by many faithful friends and two cousins, John Scott Lykins of Memphis and Gloria Lykins Adams of Martin, Tennessee.

Visitation for Frances Rootes Edwards will begin at 9 AM Sunday, January 22, at the Hatcher & Saddler Funeral Home; followed by the funeral at 2 PM. Burial will be in the Glasgow Municipal Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Glasgow Musicale Scholarship Fund, c/o Shana Pack, 200 Norris Court, Glasgow, KY 42141 or the Barren River Animal Welfare Association (BRAWA), P.O. Box 171, Glasgow, KY 42142 or the charity of the donor’s choice.