Florence Marie Beck

Florence Marie Storey Beck was born October 22, 1931 in Navasota, Texas and passed away August 15, 2023.

Because her father was in the oil business, the family traveled the gulf coast from Florida to Texas before settling in Dallas, Texas. She loved spending her summers with her maternal grandmother in the Benchley area. Mammie would read to her from the Bible and talk about her faith while they shared sugar cane pieces that Daddy Paw cut for them to eat like candy. Mammie would also give Ruth a nickel and they would run barefoot down the train tracks to buy a soda at the station. She grew up attending Episcopal and Baptist churches and was active in churches wherever she lived. She instilled in her children that you can worship in any form and in any place; the key to faith is to love God with all your heart, believe in Jesus, to love others as He loved us, and to follow the examples Jesus gave us when he was on this earth. Her favorite trip was to Israel because she was able to walk in Jesus’ steps.

Florence earned a bachelor’s degree in education and art from SMU but realized within a few years that she did not like teaching. She furthered her career with accounting classes at UTD and spent most of her working years in the banking field.

She met her husband, Lloyd, at a church hayride. Her roommate was flirting with him, but when he met Florence, it was love at first sight and their date nights were usually spent at the drive-in movies.

She will always be remembered for her smile and her kindness; her joy, warmth, and compassionate nature helped her to be a mother to whomever needed it in the moment. Travel was a passion, and she visited many countries; she instilled this love of travel in her children and grandchildren. She loved winters in Colorado and summers in Galveston with the family. Florence was an avid reader and scholar, and enjoyed coffee, card games, oil painting, and art. She displayed her own paintings and memories from travels. She was especially proud of her husband’s service in WWII and the cedar chest was filled with his military memorabilia.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Beck, her infant son David Beck, and many aunts, uncles, and friends; and dearly loved pets, Sunshine and Mr. Fuzzy.

Florence is survived by her children, Donald Douglas Back of Charlotte, NC and Kathryn Beck Switzer of College Station, TX; grandchildren, Kathryn Marie Switzer of College Station and Kelsie Alisha Switzer of Keller, TX. .

The family would like to acknowledge the doctors, nurses, and many staff members at Baylor Scott & White Hospital for their compassionate care and love, as well as The Comfort Keepers, especially Ms. Shannon, and Nellie Samford, her dear friend and housekeeper.