As the sun rose and kissed the Texas Gulf coast on Friday, August 28, 2015, our mother and friend, Frances Sylvis, awoke in the loving embrace of her Lord Jesus.

She passed from this earth as she lived, with honest simple strength and dignity. Born on April 13, 1936, in Waterbury, Maryland, to her parents, William and Alice Cole.

She married Edward Tinus and together raised seven children, Teri, Annie, Edward Jr., Daniel, Robert, Kathy and Michele. She is also survived by numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her late husband, Robert Sylvis.

Her church family, at Family Worship Center in Bay City, was very important and much loved by her, as she was by them.

Family Worship Center will honor her one last time, this Saturday, September 5, 2015, at 10 a.m.

She lived 79 chronological years, but many lifetimes in many states. Her final home was here in Matagorda County, Texas, because she fell in love with the people and area. A woman of many skills and many talents from home making, gardening, caring for pets, carpentry, painting, singing, riding motorcycles, marksmanship, hunting and fishing and so much more.

She was a devoted mother, who taught by example tough and soft love, the value of hard work, and to overcome adversity. Her children are a reflection of this, as we all achieved much, out of shear will and determination.

Surrounded by her children who came from all corners of the nation, she was told this battle could not be won. She had but a very brief moment of sorrow and regret she would not be able to go on a cruise with her girls. She pursed her lips and looked us square in the eye and said "life sucks". At that moment she was ready to move on, and turned her attention to consoling and ministering to us, her children. We decorated her room like a luau and wore clothing fitting of a cruise, in her final moments. She not only taught us how to love, how to persevere and overcome and how to live, she taught us how to die. She asked for prayer that Jesus would take her, and while surrounded by her children, we sang her favorite songs, stroking her hair, telling her how much she is loved, she fell asleep and awoke in heaven. In a mere blink of an eye for her, though many years for us, we will be at her side again.

We love and miss our friend, mom and mom-mom but though she is not with us, she will never leave us, as we are her. God bless her and hers.