John Thomas Francis

John Thomas Francis, 76, of Sherwood passed away on June 20, 2023. John was born on September 29, 1946 in El Dorado, Arkansas; the son of Walter Amos and Nina Inez (Swilley) Francis. He married his high school sweet heart Jeri Lynn (Orr) Francis in 1965 sharing 58 years of marriage. Every couple has a story of how they met and these two have a special one. And when they tell their story they look into each other’s eyes as often as they look toward you.

While in high school in El Dorado Arkansas Johnny’s friend showed him a picture of a girl named Jeri he knew from Smackover, a town not far away. Johnny looked at that picture and said ‘I have to meet her’. His friend tried to set them up but Jeri wasn’t interested in the offer.

One day a few months later Johnny was in shop class and looked outside the window at the marching band. He zoned in on a certain brunette and realized it was the good-looking girl he saw in the photo. Jeri had moved to El Dorado. Although Johnny was a junior and Jeri a sophomore, he discovered her class route and followed her around, starry-eyed, but too nervous to introduce himself. The finally met when a group of friends gathered at Jeri’s house and that’s when they fell deeply in love.

After finishing school, they soon married. They had three boys, John, Brian and Chris. Johnny worked for Goodyear for most of his life before opening two tire stores of his own with his sons in Central Arkansas. After decades of raising a family and moving around with his career, Johnny retired and enjoyed golf and relaxing with Jeri. They lived in Hot Springs and had fun taking scenic drives in Johnny’s prized possession, a 1970 Buick GSX muscle car, one of only 679 made of that style.

Their youngest son, Chris, had got married by then and had given them another great joy of their life – a granddaughter named Amberly. They watched her grow and blossom into a beautiful young woman, who’s now a full-time oncology nurse at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. So fitting for her loving and caring nature.

When Johnny was told he had ALS in 2012, Jeri was right by his side and hasn’t left it for more than a few hours at a time. Their middle son, Brian, has a home in Sherwood and invited his parents to live there so he could help as much as possible. Johnny had a trache and is able to get around in a motorized wheelchair. He had a bright bedroom which includes an adjustable bed, a mounted TV, along with a twin bed inches away that Jeri sleeps on. The room is small in size but perfectly intimate for a couple who have been so close all their lives. Love – in the clearest and most beautiful form.

He held various positions with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company throughout his time there rising to District Manager before retiring in 1996. His hobbies included playing basketball with his sons, golfing, fishing and being a loyal Razorback fan.

John leaves behind to cherish his legacy, is wife Jeri, his sons Brian Francis and Christopher Todd Francis (wife Pam) all of Sherwood, his granddaughter Amberly Nicole Jenkins (husband Thomas), great-grandchildren Brooks and Collins Jenkins, brothers Robert Francis of Little Rock and Billy Francis (wife Jerri) of Benton, and his sister Patricia Holcomb of Arkadelphia. He was preceded in death by his parents and a son John Alan Francis, a sister Marilyn Booth from Eldorado and a baby sister Linda Francis from Eldorado.

Visitation will be held at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills on Saturday, June 24th from 11:30 to 12:30 with funeral services beginning at 12:30pm. Burial will follow in Rest Hills Memorial Park. John’s family suggest donations be made to the ALS Association at www.als.org.

Serving as pallbearers are Brian Francis, Chris Francis, Thomas Jenkins, Greg Hopper, Rob Kaler and Johnny Reep.