Francis"Frank"Xavier Mayer

Francis ("Frank") Xavier Mayer passed away on April 11.  He was born on March 20, 1930 in Muskogee, Oklahoma to German immigrants Carl Xavier Mayer and Katharina Feiertag.  Following the sudden death of Katharina, Carl married Katherine Kehoe and they raised Francis and his two sisters on the family farm.  Francis went to Sacred Heart and St. Joseph School in Muskogee, before moving to Chula Vista, California to attend high school and graduated in 1948.  He then attended the University of Tulsa receiving an Engineering and Chemistry degree in 1952.  Following his graduation, he immediately began working for Esso (later Humble and Exxon) in the Research Labs at the Baton Rouge refinery.  He had thirty-eight dedicated years serving in various engineering and advisory roles during his career.  He was credited with multiple U.S. Patents, and he always said with a smile "they made Exxon millions."  Early in his career, he also served in the U. S. Army Chemical Corp.  In 1954, he married Katherine ("Kitty") L. Williamson and they had six children.   Throughout his life he was always dedicated to his family first.  He was an avid outdoorsman enjoying boating, hunting, fishing and golf.   Many weekends were spent with family and friends on the rivers, bayous and in the fields of south Louisiana.  His roots of growing up on a farm were always in his blood; he loved spending time at his farm tending to his vegetable garden, pecan grove and the soybean fields.  He was a man who would rather do it himself than have someone else do it.  During his retirement, time was spent traveling throughout the United States and Europe; his trips to Ireland and Germany were dedicated to the research of his children's ancestry and genealogy.   Francis was a member of Our Lady of Mercy Catholic Church and Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.  He is survived by his loving wife Kitty, his children Katherine L. Mayer, Michael F. Mayer (Larissa), Thomas P. Mayer, William C. Mayer (Joanna) and Francis X. Mayer, II.  He was blessed to have ten beautiful grandchildren, whom he dearly loved.   He is also survived by his sisters Theresa (Gene) Brennan and Katherine (Leo) Morrison.  Francis was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Stephen F. Mayer.  Pallbearers will be his sons and grandsons.  Honorary Pallbearer will be Thomas Allen of New Orleans.  The family would like to thank the staff and caregivers at St. James Place, the staff and caregivers at Hospice of Baton Rouge and Michael L. Rolfsen, MD for their compassionate and enduring care towards Mr. Frank.  Visitation will be held atRabenhorst Funeral Home,825 Government Street in Baton Rouge, LA on Wednesday, April 13 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and resume on Thursday, April 14 from 9 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.  Mass will be held following the visitation at Our Lady of Mercy  Catholic Church at 10:00am followed by burial at Roselawn Cemetery.   In lieu of flowers, please make any donation to the Brothers of the Sacred Heart 801 Hearthstone Dr., Baton Rouge, LA  70806.