Sarah “Frances” Hamrick Houser

Sarah “Frances” Hamrick Houser, 87, of Morganton, NC, passed away Saturday, March 7, 2026.

She was born October 24, 1938, to the late James William Hamrick (1919-2008) and Sarah Alexander Hamrick (1919-2012), in Rutherford County, NC. Frances grew up on a farm near Caroleen, NC and was educated in the public schools of Rutherford County, Gardner-Webb College in Boiling Springs, NC, and received her bachelor’s degree at Appalachian State Teachers’ College (Appalachian State University) in 1961. She began her 36-year educator’s career at West Lincoln High School for two years and was the founding librarian there until joining her husband, Troy, who was serving in the US Navy in San Diego, CA. It was in San Diego that their first son Mitchell was born. Upon returning to North Carolina, she joined Rutherford County Schools where she would complete 36 years as a media specialist at Forest City Elementary School. She retired from the system in 2000.

At Gardner-Webb, she and her best friend and roommate Kathryn Scruggs were co-editors of the college yearbook. After graduating at Gardner-Webb, she transferred to Appalachian State Teachers’ College (now Appalachian State University) where she graduated with honors with a major in English and minors in History and Library Science. It was her Library Science minor that led her into her media specialist role in public schools.

She moved with her husband Troy to Morganton where he was a journalist with the local newspaper and she commuted to Forest City throughout the remainder of her educator career.

In Morganton, she and her husband were longtime members of Mount Home Baptist Church where for 20 years she taught in the Sunday School Children’s Department, 3-year-olds for several years and then 4-year-olds for the remainder of her teaching. She retired from her role as teacher in 2020. She then became a member of the Co-ed 67-and-Up Sunday School class where her husband was teacher.

She and her husband were parents of two sons. Mitchell Derek Houser (1964-2016) and Wesley Houser (Katherine) of Morganton, NC. Mitchell’s two children are Dr. Dustin S. Houser (Tiffany) of Morganton, a doctor of chiropractic at Alpine Chiropractic in Morganton, and Shanae D. Houser Gantt, RN (Tyler) of Morganton, a nurse at Greystone Eye in Hickory, NC. Shanae and Tyler are parents of Ridley, the first great-grandchild of Frances and Troy. Two other grandchildren are the sons of Wesley and Katherine Houser. Eli Houser (Caeli), is a master’s of divinity student at Southeastern Seminary at Wake Forest, and Andrew Houser of Morganton. Frances is also survived by her brother, Gene Hamrick (Betty) of Asheboro, NC, and several nieces and nephews.

Frances loved motor home camping with her husband.

A celebration of Frances’ life will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 14, 2026 at Mount Home Baptist Church with Rev. Ethan Cromer officiating. The doors for the church will be open starting at 1 p.m.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mount Home Baptist Church, 2272 Mount Home Church Road, Morganton, NC 28655.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.