Frances E. Reynolds '55, Ed.D.

Frances E. Reynolds '55, Ed.D., a lifelong educator who taught all grades from pre-school to college, passed away after a short hospital stay on Feb. 23 in Columbia, Missouri, at the age of 89.

Reynolds was born on May 30, 1933, in Pasadena, California, to Louise and Frank Reynolds. She earned her bachelor of science in education, and eventually continued her education at California State University, Northridge, earning her master of arts in educational psychology in 1972. Reynolds earned her doctorate of education degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia (MU) in 1988. She taught multiple classes at Rock Bridge High School from 1977 through 2003, including the nationally-acclaimed, team-taught “The United States and the Vietnam Experience” and established “The Reading Place,” a space to encourage students to read. Following her retirement, she taught intensive English classes at the MU’s Asian Affairs Center from 2004 through 2023. In addition to her teaching, Reynolds was a prolific writer and presenter and often presented at professional development conferences including the National Teachers of English, Missouri MOREnet conferences and the Veterans for Peace.

Reynolds became a Unitarian Universalist in 1959 after her marriage to Robert C. Waters in 1955. After their divorce in 1976, she moved to Columbia, Missouri, and joined the Unitarian Universalist Church of Columbia, where she led and participated in multiple committees. Reynolds facilitated the Life Stories writing group at the church beginning in 2000. This group provided yearly services and books based on their writing.

Reynolds was devoted to her family and cherished spending time with her nine beloved grandchildren, to whom she was known as "Gram." She is survived by her three children, Jonathan (Janet), Ted (Shannon) and Anne (Jim); her sister Cheryl (Bruce); and legions of beloved nieces and nephews, cousins, ex-students and friends with whom she shared a love of writing, swimming, dogs, books, walking and life in general.

A memorial service to celebrate Reynolds' life will be held on June 10 at 1 p.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church in Columbia.