Donald Eugene Francis

Donald E. Francis passed away on Monday, January 5, 2015 at his home in Okemos, Michigan at the age of 89. The son of Clay Cecil and Edna Catherine Francis, Don was born in St. Joseph, Missouri on May 25, 1925. Don’s mother divorced in the late 1920s and struggled to raise two children alone by owning and working a small beauty parlor. Their apartment was the 2nd floor of the beauty shop. Eventually, Don’s mother remarried and Vince Westland became the father Don had missed so much.

Don joined the Navy in 1944 and was proud of his service to his country. During World War II, Don was a Seaman First Class, stationed aboard submarines in the Pacific Theater. He married his first wife, LoVern, at the age of 19 while stationed in New London, Connecticut. They returned home to Kansas City in 1946 as a married couple, and began living the American dream, which included a civilian job, a family, and a mortgage.

Don began his 38 year career with Oldsmobile in 1953 as a District Service Representative in Kansas. Through the years, Don moved around the country as well as up the corporate ladder. In 1960, Don was promoted to Zone Service Manager for the Kansas City Zone. In 1963, he was promoted and transferred to the Charlotte, North Carolina Zone office. In 1966, he was again promoted to Service Promotions Manager and transferred to the home office in Lansing, where he married his 2nd wife, Hazel. He and Hazel purchased an airstream motor home and planned to tour the country. However, Hazel was diagnosed with terminal cancer and they were never able to travel. He retired in 1992 as Service Engineering Garage Manager and married his 3rd wife, Glenda. Eventually, he and Glenda were able to take several trips around the country, as Don had always dreamed of doing.

Don’s passion was his hobby farm in Okemos and rebuilding Allis Chalmers tractors and other related farm equipment. Many a cow, sheep, goat, pig, horse or goose lived on the farm, not as animals, but as pets.

Don was preceded in death by wives LoVern Francis, Hazel Francis, and Glenda Francis. He is survived by daughters, Linda Starrak, Donna Schultz, Laura Kamel and sons Don Francis, Steve Francis and Jerry Scott. Don also has 15 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, January 9, 2015 at Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes, 1730 E. Grand River Ave., East Lansing, with Rev. Paul Lindloff officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, January 8, 2015, from 5-8pm and Friday from 1-2pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his name to the Capital Area Humane Society, 7095 W. Grand River Ave., Lansing, MI 48906, or American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (aspca.org/donate).

The family is being served by Gorsline Runciman East Lansing. On line condolences may be shared with the family at www.greastlansing.com.