Mary Frances Frederick, a 1938 graduate of UALR, has bequeathed her alma mater an endowment that will fund a full-time student scholarship each year so others can receive the gift of an education that enriched her life.

“She was the recipient of a scholarship when she attended Little Rock Junior College and she never forgot how that impacted her life,” said Mary Ann McKinney, Frederick’s second cousin and trustee of the Frederick Revocable Trust. “For that reason she wanted to ‘pass it on’ so other students who might not otherwise be able to attend college could do so because of her gift.”

Frederick died March 15 at the age of 89. With her gift, UALR will establish and endow the Mary Frances Frederick Memorial Scholarship targeted to students with financial needs.

“This generous gift is a testament to the significance education – and this institution – made in Mrs. Frederick’s life,” said Bob Denman, executive director of UALR’s Office of Development.

Known as Frances, Mary Frances McCaslin was born in 1919. She married William E. Frederick in 1956 and they made their home in Little Rock. She worked for 23 years as an administrative officer at the federal Housing and Urban Development agency. Her husband died in 1981.

“Since her parents also passed away and she had no brothers, sisters, or children, for many years, her family consisted of cousins, all of whom she treasured,” McKinney said.

At her funeral, McKinney’s son delivered a eulogy that quoted some of his cousin Frances’ thoughts that had been jotted down in her Bible. She wrote, “The sunset of this life is the sunrise of eternity.”

“As much as anyone I’ve known, Frances made the most of her sunset,” her third cousin said. “Certainly, this quote gives us hope for what awaits us beyond the doors of death, but I don’t think that’s where Frances placed her focus. I think she kept driving west, so she could catch more of the sunset.”

Her gift to UALR assures that her legacy will forever chase the sun.