Frances B. Madison

Frances B. Gonzalez Madison, 81, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 18th at her home in Laredo, Texas. Frances was born in Laredo, Texas and was the daughter of Gilberto G. Gonzalez and Herminia Gamez Gonzalez. She attended St. Peter’s Parochial School, Martin High School, and Texas Women’s University. She graduated from TWU in Denton with a B.S. degree in Dance, Physical Education, Sociology, History, and Government. Upon graduation she began her teaching career at Southwest Texas Teacher College in San Marcos, which is now Texas State University. After teaching five years in San Marcos and Laredo Texas( Martin High School), she moved to Maryland and joined the Prince George’s County School System. She joined the High Point High School and taught Dance and Physical Education and coached basketball as well as track and field. In 1962 she received her M.A. in Education and Dance from the University of Texas. Her thesis on Matachin Dance in Texas and Mexico became a primary source for much of the later research done on this dance form. Over the years she had accumulated 30 credits beyond the M.A. at the University of Maryland. She was certified in Administration and Supervision in the field of Dance and Physical Education. Through the years, she had: -Organized her own “dance studio on wheels”, which introduced formal dance instruction to many areas of the Rio Grande Valley in Texas. -Helped develop the dance curriculum for the State of Texas and also for the State of Maryland. -Helped develop the criteria for certification in dance for the State of Maryland. -Worked on the State Task Force that developed the Dance Education Curriculum K-12. -Been inducted into the Psi Chapter of Pi Lambda Theta (The National Honor Society for Education.) -Been a recipient of the Maryland State Outstanding Service Award from M.A.H. P. E. R. & D. -Written the proposal for the first dance courses offered in Prince George’s County, and established the County’s first dance course at High Point. -Served as a clinician for County, State, and Tri-State conferences and workshops. -Served as Chairman of the Dance Section for M.A.H.P.E.R. & D. -Organized the Modern dance Theatre at High Point. -Served as Dance Chairman for the Prince George’s County Task Force for the Center of Visual and Performing Arts. -Worked on the Creative Arts middle school magnet proposal. -Directed dance activities for service bases, recreation departments, and community organizations. -Choreographed and provided dance direction for musical productions. -Wrote the Dance section of the Prince George’s County Physical Education Curriculum. -Served on the Middle Atlantic States evaluation committee. She returned to Texas living in San Antonio and then her home in Laredo, Texas since 2005. She was preceded in death by her parents Gilberto and Herminia Gonzalez; her husband, William G. Madison; her sister, Nora G. (Jose†) Montemayor; her nephew Armando G. Montemayor. She leaves behind to cherish her precious memories her sisters, Maria Teresa (Ramiro Jr.) Ramirez, Dora (Daly†) Wolfe; her nieces, Michelle Y.(Neil) Vickers, Andrea T.(Thomas) Crucian, Ramiro Ramirez III, Nora Idalia Montemayor , Jose A.( Martha) Montemayor, Gerardo Montemayor, Gilberto Wolfe, Eddie (Susan) Wolfe, Mary Ellen Montemayor; step-daughters, Faith and Patty Madison; grand nieces and nephews, Joseph Crucian, Robert Crucian, Skyler L. Vickers, Dante A. Vickers, Isabella Montemayor, Mia Montemayor, as well as other family members. A vigil of the deceased will be held at St. Patrick Church, 555 E. Del Mar, Laredo, Texas Friday, February 24, 2017 at 9:00 a.m. Holy mass will be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. After the mass services, interment will be held at the family plot of the Calvary Catholic Cemetery. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Dr. Haber, Dr. Godines and the Nurses on Wheels, and to her caretakers Guadalupe Gomez and Alejandra Flores. Pallbearers will be Ramiro Ramirez III, Neil Vickers, Thomas Crucian, Gilberto Wolfe, Eddie Wolfe, Saul Flores and Rolando Flores.