Michael Franques, a pillar of his community, a beacon of light in the lives of those he touched, and a beloved friend to all who knew him, passed away peacefully on March 18. Born in 1952, his life’s journey reflected his vibrant personality characterized by humor, charisma, generosity, love and a fervent spirit of defense for the less fortunate.
A celebration of his life will be held at Cathedral of Hope on Friday, April 25, at 2 p.m. Everyone who knew him is invited to attend this service and share their memories of his life and legacy.
Those who knew and loved Michael will remember him as a man full of life and laughter. His charisma was infectious, his charitable works were far-reaching, and his loving nature was palpable. He led his life by a simple yet powerful lesson he often shared: “Love one another.”
Michael graduated from McNeese University in Lake Charles, La., in 1974, and enjoyed a varied work history, with a resume including golf instructor, pharmaceutical sales representative, software systems manager and senior software salesman. He moved to
Dallas in 1977, immediately making many lifelong friends.
Michael was a successful professional, notably achieving the Million Dollar Club in sales. Yet his greatest achievements were not in the boardroom but in the lives he touched. His generosity, wit and warmth brought joy and comfort to many, making him a truly remarkable man.
He is survived by his spouse, Mark Arnold, his life-partner of 22 years. They were married in 2023.
In lieu of flowers, the family requess donations to the fund set up in Michael’s honor at EverLoved.com/Life-of/Michael-Franques/Donate.
Michael’s passing leaves a void in our hearts, yet his spirit lives on in the joyous memories and valuable lessons he left behind. His life taught us the importance of laughter, love, and generosity. He will be greatly missed.
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North Texas activist and LGBTQ advocate Michael Moon died on Sunday, April 20. He graduated from Skyline High School and earned a B.A. In Soviet affairs, government and astronomy from University of Texas at Austin.
Michael worked as a consultant, corporate trainer and I.T. specialist. He was an adjunct instructor at El Centro College.
But he was best known for his years of volunteer work. Among the organizations he served as president were University of Texas Young Democrats, Dallas Area Young Democrats and Stonewall Democrats of Dallas. He was on the national committee of Young Democrats of America, served as a member of Dallas Area Rapid Transit Citizens Advisory Committee and the Dallas County Elections Absentee Ballot Board.
He was a former Democratic precinct chair and election judge.
He is survived by his sisters Margo, Janie and Rosie, and his beloved nieces and nephews. One of his nieces wrote, “He was truly more than an uncle. He was my best friend.”
Funeral services are pending.
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Well-known North Texas artist Robbie Conover died Saturday, April 19, at his home in Dallas. Born 1956 in Kingfisher, Okla., he studied art at the prestigious Pratt Institute in New York City, where he studied commercial art and was known for his fast turn-around on assignments.
In his 40 years as an artist, Conover produced a variety of work, including abstract and realist pieces. But he is best known for his pop art, pieces of which he frequently donated to a variety of causes and events, including Black Tie Dinner, Resource Center, Gaybingo, GDMAF’s MetroBall and more.
In November of 2014, Conover created a special piece for the cover of Dallas Voice’s Art Issue. He was also the perennial winner of the Best Artist award in the annual Dallas Voice Readers Voice Awards. In fact, Conover won the 2025 RVA for Best Artist just last month.
During his time In New York City, Conover found himself at the epicenter of the burgeoning pop art movement as some of the movement’s most well-known artists were producing groundbreaking works. These artists, some of whom were gay, had tremendous influence on him, including Andy Warhol, Robert Rauschenberg and Roy Lichtenstein.
Conover said he wound up in Dallas after a chance encounter with an influential journalist on a plane ride following the 1996 Olympics. Conover was looking for what to do next in his career when he met Ashleigh Banfield, then a reporter at Dallas’ Fox 4 television station. The two talked about their careers, and after seeing his portfolio, Banfield helped convince Dallas city officials to commission Conover to do a series of murals here, and he never left.
“I like to make art involved and fun for the viewer,” Conover told Dallas Voice in 2014. “Art is a serious thing but shouldn’t be taken too seriously.”
Robb Conover is survived by his sisters and one of his four brothers and by his friend and partner of 25 years Trevor Bates.
Services are pending in Dallas and Oklahoma.
Robbie’s fam has a GoFundMe for his funeral expenses: https://gofund.me/472e4cf7