Steve Francis

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

The Rev. Steve Francis, 67, of Jackson, Missouri, died Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2014, at Southeast Hospital in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

He was born April 17, 1947, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to Emery Louis and Dorothy Estelle Jones Francis Sr..

He and Sandra Kaye Brown Francis were married Tuesday, Dec. 31, 1968, at Conway.

He was a member and deacon of Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau.

Steve was ordained to the Gospel ministry on June 8, 1969, at Beacon Baptist Church in Blytheville. During his ministry, he pastored Baptist churches in Missouri, Arkansas and Mississippi. He came to Jackson as a bivocational state missionary, pastoring at Dayspring MB Church. He was employed at Schnuck's Food and Drug, starting in 1994, until the present time. Steve loved to sing at nursing homes and play his autoharp. He had formerly been a chaplain at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape and was an avid fisherman. Steve set school records in track when he attended Blytheville High School.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Sandra Francis of Jackson;

Two sons, Matthew (Melony) Francis of Sallisaw, Oklahoma and Mark Francis of Jackson;

A brother, Emery (Linda) Francis Jr. of Sherwood;

Two sisters, Susan Francis of Blytheville and Lisa Colclasure of Rogers;

His grandchildren, Gunnar Cooper Grandchild, Cassandra Francis, Graci Francis, Taylor Davidson, Shelby Francis, Skylar Francis, and Samara Francis; and

One great-grandchild, Gavin Cooper

Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23 at Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, and again from 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24 at Roller McNutt Funeral Home in Conway.

A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25 at Hillcreek Cemetery near Plummerville, Arkansas.

Memorial contributions may be given to Hillcreek Cemetery, Plummerville, AR or to the Kenneth R. Brown Scholarship Fund in care of Central Baptist College, 1501 College Ave., Conway, AR 72034.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.

Ford & Sons Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.