Gary Donald Francis

Gary Donald Francis, 64, of Tidioute, formerly of Pleasantville, died Wednesday, May 16, 2007, at his home after a short battle with cancer.

Gary was born November 8, 1942 in Bath, New York, the eldest son of the late Donald Lavern Francis and Louise Emerson Francis. Gary was a 1960 graduate of Titusville High School. He joined the Marine Corps, serving from 1961 to 1964 during the Vietnam Era, in which he was wounded twice. He received the Good Conduct Metal twice before being honorably discharged with a rank of corporal. After leaving the service, he worked in a variety of places, most notably for his father at Agway. He also greatly enjoyed working for John Cubbon.

Gary was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and just being outside. He was an active member of the Pleasantville Volunteer Fire Department for many years. Later in life, he found great solace and joy in a hobby from his youth, woodworking. Thanks to the use of a good friend’s shop, Gary filled his last year with furniture-making.

He married Linda Loucks and had two daughters. Gary and Linda divorced. He married Faith Darlene Baker on July 18, 1976, in Pleasantville. They had two children.

In addition to his father, Gary was preceded in death by a brother, William.

He is survived by his mother Louise Francis, Chapmanville, PA, his wife Faith, children: Amy and her husband Eric Derk, Philadelphia, PA, Melissa Francis, Greenville, NC, Robert Donald Francis, Washington, DC, and Bethany Francis, Titusville, PA. He is also survived by a sister Nancy and her husband Raymond Kopf, Chapmanville, PA and a brother Edward Francis and his wife Carol, LaPorte, Indiana; grandchildren: Olivia Francis and Henry Derk; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received at the James M Higgins Funeral Home 3 Elm Street, Tidioute, Saturday afternoon, May 19th from 2 to 4pm.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, May 20th, at 2pm in the Tidioute Baptist Church with Pastor Jerry States officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, Hospice of Crawford County, Tidioute Towers Residents’ Fund or the Pleasantville Volunteer Fire Department.