Stephen Francis

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Stephen Francis

October 20, 2014

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

He was born April 17, 1947, in New Bedford, Massachusetts, to Emery Louis and Dorothy Estelle Jones Francis Sr. He and Sandra Kaye Brown were married Dec. 31, 1968, in Conway, Arkansas.

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

He was ordained to the gospel ministry June 8, 1969, at Beacon Baptist Church in Blytheville, Arkansas.

During his ministry he pastored Baptist churches in Missouri, Arkansas, and Mississippi. He came to Jackson as a bi-vocational state missionary, pastoring at Dayspring Missionary Baptist Church. He was employed at Schnucks Food and Drug from 1994 until the present time. Steve loved to sing at nursing homes and play his autoharp. He was a former chaplain at Missouri Veterans Home. He was an avid fisherman.

Survivors include his wife, Sandra Francis of Jackson; two sons, Matthew

(Melony) Francis of Sallisaw, Oklahoma, Mark Francis of Jackson; a brother, Emery (Linda) Francis Jr. of Sherwood, Arkansas; two sisters, Susan Francis of Blytheville, Lisa Colclasure of Rogers, Arkansas; seven grandchildren, Gunnar Cooper, Cassandra Francis, Graci Francis, Taylor Davidson, Shelby Francis, Skylar Francis, Samara Francis; and a great-grandchild, Gavin Cooper.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be today from 4 to 8 p.m. at Lynwood Baptist Church in Cape Girardeau, and Friday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Conway. A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Hillcreek Cemetery near Plumerville, Arkansas.

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

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7 Condolence(s)
Patti reynolds
Conway, AR
Liked
Friday, October 31, 2014

Sandra I am so sorry to hear. I am praying for you and your family. God be with you all.

James Bennett
Fayetteville,
Liked
Monday, October 27, 2014

Became acquainted with Steve at CBC and then he pastored our church for a while. Steve is home for eternity and will surely be missed by all until that Glad Reunion Day.

Charles & Eva (lynn) Faverty
Bald knob, AR
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Saturday, October 25, 2014

Brother Steve we loved you. we glad that you finally got call to the best place there is to preach at. we learned so much under you at day spring.in Jackson. even though times i was sleeping during the service. your preaching will be surly will missed here on earth. it is because of you me and Eva is still in church today.. love you Charles and Eva Faverty

Elaine Adams
muldrow, OK
Liked
Friday, October 24, 2014

Matt, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. As you told Mel, your Dad is with our Heavenly Father, may you look to God for comfort.

Love Mema Elaine & Greg

Elaine Adams
muldrow, OK
Liked
Friday, October 24, 2014

Matt, our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. as you told Mel, your Dad is with our Heavenly Father, may you look to God for comfort.

Love Mema Elaine & Greg

Fred & Mary Vogel
Galena, KS
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Friday, October 24, 2014

Our love and prayers go out to Sandra, Matthew and Mark. May God grant you a peace that only He can give. We love you all.

Amy (Vogel) Parnell
Galena, KS
Liked
Friday, October 24, 2014

I'm heartbroken to hear of Steve's passing. I was just a child when I knew him, but I loved to hear him play his auto-harp & sing, & his sense of humor was unmatched!

Mark, I don't know if you know how many hours I spent as a young girl (maybe in part because of the crush I had on you then) praying that you would give your life to Christ. I'll never forget when my dad woke me up at 2am, telling me your dad had called in tears to let us know you had been saved! He loved you boys SO much; when he knew you would all be together in heaven, his joy was complete! I can't imagine your grief right now, but oh what joy to know your family IS complete, & he's waiting for you just on the other side of heaven's gates!

My love and prayers are with you as you grieve. I pray that sooner rather than later, you'll be able to remember him with joy rather than just hurt to miss him. I love you all!