Loren Dean Francis, son of Willis O. and Ethlyn (Wood) Francis, was born in Harrison County, Missouri, near Cainsville, on April 17, 1928, and passed away on April 11, 2016, at Pearls II Eden for Elders in Princeton, Missouri, at the age of 87 years.
Dean was united in marriage to Wilma Faye Bryan on April 17, 1945. They lived and farmed most of their married life in Harrison and Mercer Counties, later moving to the Hal England Center in Princeton. Wilma preceded Dean in death on August 21, 2012. He was also preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Leonard, George, and Bob Francis; one sister, Anna Lois Francis; a son-in-law, Mike Weaver; a grandson, Aaron Sager; and by a great-granddaughter, Anna White. He is survived by eight daughters, Lorene Faulkner (and son-in-law, Ron) of Harris, Missouri, Joyce White (and son-in-law, Dick) of Urbandale, Iowa, Genene Sager (and son-in-law, Fred) of Springfield, Missouri, Vickie Girdner (and son-in-law, Mike), Ronda Sorenson (and son-in-law, Russ), Bronna Goodin (and son-in-law, Bill), Alice Johnson (and son-in-law, Tony) all of Princeton, and Amie Troyer (and son-in-law, Steve) of Madrid, Iowa; two sons, Kenny Francis (and daughter-in-law, Brenda) of Ravanna, Missouri, and Alex Francis of Galt, Missouri; 30 grandchildren; 52 great-grandchildren; 1 great, great-grandson; his sister, Louise Frisbie of Cainsville, Missouri; and by other relatives and friends.
Dean enjoyed whittling, shooting pool, playing pitch, hunting, horseshoe pitching, sports (especially the St. Louis Cardinals), traveling, watching his grandkids, feeding squirrels, gardening, and walking. He loved his family and enjoyed family gatherings with all present. Dean was always ready to lend a hand to anyone who needed help, and will be missed by family, friends and all who knew him.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, April 14, 2016, at 1:00 P.M., at the Cainsville, Missouri, Baptist Church with Pastor Doug Faulkner officiating under the direction of the Greenlee-Middleton Funeral Service of Princeton, Missouri. Burial will be in Zoar Cemetery in Cainsville.
Open visitation and viewing will begin at 8:30 A.M., Wednesday, at the Greenlee-Middleton Funeral Chapel in Princeton where the family visitation will be from 6:00-7:00 P.M. Wednesday evening.
The family requests memorial contributions to the Mercer County Senior Center Building Fund in lieu of flowers. Contribution may be mailed to the funeral home at P.O. Box 316, Princeton, MO 64673.