Mary Frances Pruitt Cohron, 93, of Henderson, Kentucky, and the matriarch of the "Cohron Clan," died on Tuesday, October 27, 2020, of Covid-19 despite putting up a valiant fight.  She was born March 28, 1927, the eldest child of Edna (Tapp) and Preston Pruitt.

She graduated from Barrett High School in 1944.  Frances earned her Bachelor's in Education from Evansville Collage and Master's in Education from Western Kentucky University.

A beloved teacher in the Henderson County School System for 27 years, science was her favorite subject to teach, especially Geology and Astronomy.  Her students learned to play chess and go on exciting field trips fossil hunting, attending plays, and visiting St. Louis and Chicago for the planetarium, zoo, and science museums.  It was important for her that her students had learning experiences beyond the classroom and their homes.

Frances had a passion for fossils and had an extensive collection envied and coveted by museums and colleges.  All of her children had aprons with a chisel, pick, and pockets to store their fossils on the family fossil weekend trips.  The house was overflowing with rocks and cataloguing books… on tables, floors, window sills, and book shelves.  She had two telescopes that she shared the sky with her family, students, and neighbors.  She loved birdwatching, keeping her birdfeeders full to attract a wide variety of birds.  She had a canoe, STATUS SYMBOL, which she would paddle with Pete or the kids.

Born with great curiosity for learning, travel, and adventure, her wanderlust led her family on trips all over the US and Canada.  Her Rand McNally road atlas was always at her side ready for her to comb through to plan a trip.  On the road trips, she knew the history, geography, and geology everywhere and imparted it as she drove along.  Being a teacher, she was free during the summer to pack up the kids and family dog and take off into the blue yonder.  Being a non-traditional, non-conforming mother, her domestic skills were not envied…she simply had no interest.  She was all about the family having experiences… going out in snowstorms to see if the car could get through the snow, chasing fire trucks in the middle of the night to see where they were going, taking the family camping, getting excited about eyeing a hawk or wildlife, and collecting butterflies and moths.  She encouraged her children to seek out experiences and loved to hear about them.

As her children grew into their teens, she would pull Pete out of bed early on a Saturday morning to go for a "drive."  Hours later, the kids would get a phone call from them saying that "we just ended up in St. Louis (or Chicago),…we will be home later this evening."  She loved to drive, and it did not matter where she was going.

Frances loved music… classical, Broadway tunes, and special hymns were her favorite.  A voracious reader and instilling the love of reading has trickled all the way down to her great-grandchildren.  Agatha Christie mysteries and scientific magazines were her favorites.

She loved to have Derby parties or have friends drop in for her "famous" Daiquiris and Pink Squirrels to sip while they discussed politics.

She married Hensil "Pete" Cohron  September 4, 1950.  They were a real team, always supporting each other, enjoying traveling, going to the theater, being politically involved, and raising their four children.  When Pete became too ill to travel, the "go and do" aspect of her life was put on hold without any complaint.  She stayed at his side, caring for him with such love until his death.

For years, Frances lived with her daughter, Robin, and family who overlooked her care.  They moved to Louisville for Robin's job, but within a couple years, they "came home", both missing their home roots.

Frances was a wonderful grandmother role model for her children.  She and Pete were present for their grandchildren's births, making rushed trips to Michigan and Connecticut and up to Methodist Hospital to excitedly await the arrival of the newest family addition.  She loved every grandchild for who they are, learning about their interests and supporting them, teaching them about science, taking them on trips, teaching them to fish at Audubon Park, and taking them to Mesker Zoo or to see the grave of their great-grandfather who fought in the Civil War.

Gran Fran was a letter writer.  With her beautiful handwriting, she would compose detailed letters to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren about their heritage and their Great-grandfather whom they did not meet, all treasured memories!  She inspired the grandchildren to love education in ways and subjects and in unexpected topics such as geology, archeology, and cartography.  The eight of them are going to miss "Gran Fran" very much.

Her family became her focus and she loved the growth to 26 members and all gatherings of the family.  She was always anxious to hear the news about every family member.

Mary Frances was preceded in death by her parents, Edna and Preston Pruitt; her husband, Hensil "Pete" Cohron; and her brothers, Elvin and Charles Pruitt.

Survivors include her four children, Sunny (Jeff) Kagan of West Hartford, Connecticut, Peter ( Donna) Cohron of Henderson, Kentucky, Merry Beth (Dudley) Henderson of Prospect, Kentucky, and Robin Cohron Bovey of Henderson, Kentucky;  "Fabulous Gran Fran"  is survived by her eight grandchildren, Jonathan (Carolyn) Kagan of Stamford, Connecticut, Emily Kagan (Marc Rousset) of West Hartford, Connecticut,  Joshua Cohron ( Emily Belwood) of Louisville, Kentucky, Christopher Cohron  of Lexington, Kentucky,  Elisabeth Crockett (Daniel) of Madisonville, Kentucky, Harrison ( Jessica) Henderson of Prospect, Kentucky, Alex Bovey of Louisville, Kentucky, and Katy Bovey (Dylan Lancaster) of Bowling Green, Kentucky; and her six great-grandchildren who carry on her interest in fossils, the stars, nature, and reading, Taylor and Sophia Henderson,  Avery and Carter Kagan, and  Max and Leo Rousset.

Thank you to Donna Kuester, the staff at Redbanks Nursing home, and Kathy Marable who gave her such nurturing care.

For all who knew and loved Frances, may her memory be a blessing.

Due to the Covid situation, there will not be a funeral at this time.  A memorial service will be held in the spring.

Rudy-Rowland Funeral Home is in charge all arrangements.

If you wish to honor Frances, please make a donation to Riverview School, 133 South Water Street, Henderson, Kentucky 42420 or New Hope Animal Rescue Center, 526 Atkinson Street, Henderson, Kentucky 42420.

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