1923
Jasper
2010
Jasper C. Francis
August 27, 1923 — December 27, 2010
Harlingen:
Jasper Claude Francis, Jr., known affectionately by his friends as Jake, Jay, or Jasper went home peacefully to be with our Heavenly Father on December 27, 2010. Mary Kathryn Clarkson Francis, his wife of 52 years, preceded him in death. Jasper was born on August 27, 1923, in Beaumont, Texas. After graduating from high school, Jake immediately joined the US Navy in 1942 and served four years as a Machinist Mate 3rd Class abroad the minelayer USS Weehawken where he saw action in supporting the US invasion of Italy, the Pacific Theater operations, and the Central Pacific operations. Jake always said, “Where ever the US Naval fleet went, we had already been.” After suffering a life threatening injury and being discharged from the Navy, Jake attended Arkansas A & I and Lamar College (University) where he met and married Mary Kathryn Clarkson on August 31, 1947.
Jake worked in Beaumont, Texas as a delivery truck driver for Falstaff Beer and worked his way up to general manager. He was active in the Lions’ Club in Beaumont. In the early 1960s, he started working as general manager for T.E. Mercer Trucking in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1964 Jake moved to Odessa, Texas, where he managed the Coors Beer Distributorship until June of 1969 when he moved to Austin to work in group insurance sales for the Boone-Chapman Insurance Agency. In the mid 1970s, Jay began working for the Small Business Administration and eventually moved to Harlingen. His work with the SBA included traveling out of town where he was never without his golf clubs. He was known to have played every golf course all over Texas, merely walking up to the green, saying “howdy” and completing a foursome. During this time he returned to college, commuting to Austin on weekends and obtained a degree in business administration from St. Edward’s University in Austin. He retired from the SBA in the early 1980s.
Jasper did not slow down when he retired. His passion was woodworking, and he spent many hours in his woodshop refurbishing, building and repairing wooden furniture. He loved antiques, and derived immense satisfaction in salvaging a broken up roll-top desk from a woodpile and rebuilding it into a remarkable keepsake. His latter years were spent enjoying golf on television, reading many books and his Bible.
Jasper Francis was a member of and served as elder/elder emeritus at Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Harlingen, Texas. He is fondly remembered as being outgoing and quick to smile and extend his hand in friendship to people he just met. Jasper is survived by his sister Betty (Pat) Garza of Lumberton, Texas; his children: Sue (Randy) Horkman of La Feria, Lisa (Lorenzo) Gutierrez of Harlingen, and David (Sally) Francis of Wimberly, Texas; his grandchildren (who affectionately call him Daa or Grandpa): Lisa Graves, Kristyn (Kalum) Marek, Erika Gutierrez, Jake Francis, Danny Francis; and his great grandson: Kian John Marek. Numerous loving nieces and nephews who fondly remember their “Uncle Jake” also survive him.
The family thanks Dr. Thomas Huff and staff, Dr. David Yardley and staff, management and staff at Canterbury Gardens, Canterbury Court, and Canterbury Court Memory Care, Palm Valley Health Care and Harlingen Medical Center for their wonderful caring and kindness demonstrated to us and our father during these days.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice or to the retirement fund for retired Presbyterian (PCA) Pastor Isaias Uc. Make checks payable to Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA), 2701 N. 7th Street, Harlingen, Texas 78550 and note on check that donation is for Isaias Uc”.
Visitation will be held at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Thursday, December 30, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a graveside services to follow at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery, 2520 S. Inspiration Road, Mission, Texas 78572 at 3 p.m. with Pastor Scott Floyd officiating.
You may leave a memory or condolence at www.buckashcraft.com.
Arrangements are with Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
Jasper Claude Francis, Jr., known affectionately by his friends as Jake, Jay, or Jasper went home peacefully to be with our Heavenly Father on December 27, 2010. Mary Kathryn Clarkson Francis, his wife of 52 years, preceded him in death. Jasper was born on August 27, 1923, in Beaumont, Texas. After graduating from high school, Jake immediately joined the US Navy in 1942 and served four years as a Machinist Mate 3rd Class abroad the minelayer USS Weehawken where he saw action in supporting the US invasion of Italy, the Pacific Theater operations, and the Central Pacific operations. Jake always said, “Where ever the US Naval fleet went, we had already been.” After suffering a life threatening injury and being discharged from the Navy, Jake attended Arkansas A & I and Lamar College (University) where he met and married Mary Kathryn Clarkson on August 31, 1947.
Jake worked in Beaumont, Texas as a delivery truck driver for Falstaff Beer and worked his way up to general manager. He was active in the Lions’ Club in Beaumont. In the early 1960s, he started working as general manager for T.E. Mercer Trucking in Fort Worth, Texas. In 1964 Jake moved to Odessa, Texas, where he managed the Coors Beer Distributorship until June of 1969 when he moved to Austin to work in group insurance sales for the Boone-Chapman Insurance Agency. In the mid 1970s, Jay began working for the Small Business Administration and eventually moved to Harlingen. His work with the SBA included traveling out of town where he was never without his golf clubs. He was known to have played every golf course all over Texas, merely walking up to the green, saying “howdy” and completing a foursome. During this time he returned to college, commuting to Austin on weekends and obtained a degree in business administration from St. Edward’s University in Austin. He retired from the SBA in the early 1980s.
Jasper did not slow down when he retired. His passion was woodworking, and he spent many hours in his woodshop refurbishing, building and repairing wooden furniture. He loved antiques, and derived immense satisfaction in salvaging a broken up roll-top desk from a woodpile and rebuilding it into a remarkable keepsake. His latter years were spent enjoying golf on television, reading many books and his Bible.
Jasper Francis was a member of and served as elder/elder emeritus at Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Harlingen, Texas. He is fondly remembered as being outgoing and quick to smile and extend his hand in friendship to people he just met. Jasper is survived by his sister Betty (Pat) Garza of Lumberton, Texas; his children: Sue (Randy) Horkman of La Feria, Lisa (Lorenzo) Gutierrez of Harlingen, and David (Sally) Francis of Wimberly, Texas; his grandchildren (who affectionately call him Daa or Grandpa): Lisa Graves, Kristyn (Kalum) Marek, Erika Gutierrez, Jake Francis, Danny Francis; and his great grandson: Kian John Marek. Numerous loving nieces and nephews who fondly remember their “Uncle Jake” also survive him.
The family thanks Dr. Thomas Huff and staff, Dr. David Yardley and staff, management and staff at Canterbury Gardens, Canterbury Court, and Canterbury Court Memory Care, Palm Valley Health Care and Harlingen Medical Center for their wonderful caring and kindness demonstrated to us and our father during these days.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice or to the retirement fund for retired Presbyterian (PCA) Pastor Isaias Uc. Make checks payable to Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA), 2701 N. 7th Street, Harlingen, Texas 78550 and note on check that donation is for Isaias Uc”.
Visitation will be held at Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on Thursday, December 30, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a graveside services to follow at the Rio Grande Valley State Veterans Cemetery, 2520 S. Inspiration Road, Mission, Texas 78572 at 3 p.m. with Pastor Scott Floyd officiating.
You may leave a memory or condolence at www.buckashcraft.com.
Arrangements are with Buck Ashcraft Funeral Home.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Jasper C. Francis, please visit our flower store.