1943
Orville
2018
Orville Lee Francis
February 14, 1943 — March 6, 2018
Memorial service for Orville Lee Francis will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, March 9, 2018 at Epworth United Methodist Church, pastor Chester Webster will officiate. Orville passed away on Tuesday, March 6, 2018 at his home with family by his side. He was 75.
Born February 14, 1943 in Carbondale, Colorado to Sam and Margie (Kaufman) Francis, Orville traveled as a child with his family frequently between Colorado, Oklahoma, and Indiana. At the age of 16, Orville left Colorado and moved to Chelsea to live with his grandmother Frances (England) Francis.
At a young age Orville began his working career in construction and running heavy equipment. During this time he worked on the dams at Lake Oologah, Hudson and Broken Bow. Wanting to stay closer to home, he began working for Peabody Coal. For the next several years he drove heavy equipment, before becoming a dynamite blaster. After his career with Peabody he worked for Rogers County Distric 1 as a road foreman. He retired in 2008.
Orville loved the outdoors, especially when hunting deer, turkey, and quail. He also fished in bass tournaments. Another enjoyable outdoor activity was combing the land for arrowheads and learning about the Native American heritage and his Cherokee roots. When not outside Orville enjoyed watching college football and the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys and the OU Sooners were two of his favorite teams. All of these activities were made better when he was with his family. Although he was the youngest, his brothers reluctantly would admit he was the most skilled outdoorsman of the three.
He is survived by his wife Margaret Ann Francis of 44 years; son Nicky Francis of Oklahoma City, Orville Lee Francis Jr. of Chelsea, and Daughter Robin Darlene Pollard of Oklahoma City; brothers, Charles Francis and wife Karen of Salt Lake City, Utah, Bill Francis and wife Marsha of Salem, Oregon; grandchildren, Rosalind Maynor of Oklahoma City, Eric Pollard of Midwest City, LaNicka Pollard of Oklahoma City, Kyle Francis, Kirsten Draper, and Erin Francis all of Norman; and 11 great-grandchildren; and niece Michelle (who was more like a loving daughter) and husband Eric McCoy and son Seth of Alluwe.
He is preceded in death by his parents Margie Wandalea (Kaufman) Francis and Sam Francis; grandmother Frances Francis and Grandfather; George Wallace Francis.
Born February 14, 1943 in Carbondale, Colorado to Sam and Margie (Kaufman) Francis, Orville traveled as a child with his family frequently between Colorado, Oklahoma, and Indiana. At the age of 16, Orville left Colorado and moved to Chelsea to live with his grandmother Frances (England) Francis.
At a young age Orville began his working career in construction and running heavy equipment. During this time he worked on the dams at Lake Oologah, Hudson and Broken Bow. Wanting to stay closer to home, he began working for Peabody Coal. For the next several years he drove heavy equipment, before becoming a dynamite blaster. After his career with Peabody he worked for Rogers County Distric 1 as a road foreman. He retired in 2008.
Orville loved the outdoors, especially when hunting deer, turkey, and quail. He also fished in bass tournaments. Another enjoyable outdoor activity was combing the land for arrowheads and learning about the Native American heritage and his Cherokee roots. When not outside Orville enjoyed watching college football and the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys and the OU Sooners were two of his favorite teams. All of these activities were made better when he was with his family. Although he was the youngest, his brothers reluctantly would admit he was the most skilled outdoorsman of the three.
He is survived by his wife Margaret Ann Francis of 44 years; son Nicky Francis of Oklahoma City, Orville Lee Francis Jr. of Chelsea, and Daughter Robin Darlene Pollard of Oklahoma City; brothers, Charles Francis and wife Karen of Salt Lake City, Utah, Bill Francis and wife Marsha of Salem, Oregon; grandchildren, Rosalind Maynor of Oklahoma City, Eric Pollard of Midwest City, LaNicka Pollard of Oklahoma City, Kyle Francis, Kirsten Draper, and Erin Francis all of Norman; and 11 great-grandchildren; and niece Michelle (who was more like a loving daughter) and husband Eric McCoy and son Seth of Alluwe.
He is preceded in death by his parents Margie Wandalea (Kaufman) Francis and Sam Francis; grandmother Frances Francis and Grandfather; George Wallace Francis.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Orville Lee Francis, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Memorial Service
Friday, March 9, 2018
Starts at 10:00 am (Central time)
Epworth United Methodist Church
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