Kyleen was born in Memphis, TN. She started school there, but soon moved to Chattanooga and later Knoxville. She graduated from Knoxville Central High in Fountain City. After graduating she married Warren L. Franz who was a co-op Chemical Engineering student at UT. Kyleen attended UTKnoxville from 1960-1963 where she majored in Math and minored in Spanish. She graded papers for Dr. Eaves (her Calculus teacher) until attaining her Math degree. After that she went to work as a programmer at K-25 in Oak Ridge, TN.
In 1968 her husband Warren completed his doctorate in Chemical Engineering and the family moved to Houston, TX where Warren worked for Shell Oil while Kyleen worked at raising their two children (with Warren’s help of course) for several years.
In the mid-70’s Kyleen started to law school at the University of Houston. Upon graduation with her J.D. and passing the Bar exam (first try), she went to work for Exxon Corp (now ExxonMobil). She worked there until retirement and subsequently has been involved with family, friends, church, pets and volunteer activities.
When Warren died in 2015, Kyleen decided to honor his memory and the happiness they shared while UT students by establishing scholarships in Math and Chemical Engineering at UTK. She is currently a member of the newly-established UTK Board of Visitors.