Verna Elmina Francis

Verna Elmina Francis, 92, of Baker City, died Oct. 5 at St. Elizabeth Health Services.

Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Dean Baxter will conduct the services. Vault interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery. Visitation will run from noon until 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Verna was a member of the Union United Methodist Church.

Verna was born Aug. 12, 1917, in Fruitland, Idaho. She was the oldest baby of twins to Charles Bert and Alma Agusta (Troxell) Morris. She was raised on a homestead between Alder Creek and Hill Creek near Pleasant Valley.

She met her future husband in the first grade before switching schools and didn't see him again until her teenage years at a dance. She married Roy Robert Francis Sept. 17, 1935, and lived on a ranch at the head end of Alder Creek where they had their daughter, Wilma. The family then moved to a home on Dry Creek where they farmed and ranched and she had their son, Dell. For a short period they moved with their family to Bates where Roy worked. They returned to the Alder Creek ranch until 1965, when they moved to Muddy Creek and then to a home just out of Haines where they remained until 1979 when they moved to Baker City.

In her younger years she was very active in the Pleasant Valley Home Extension Service and was an avid horse person and loved animal husbandry. She loved the ranching and farming life she had with her husband. Verna also was an avid hunter both of elk and of deer. Her biggest hobby was writing letters to people.

She is survived by her daughter, Wilma, and her husband, Bill Bishop, of Baker City; son, Dell Francis and his wife, Bea Roberts, of Baker City; sister, Vera Lammert of Baker City; several grandchildren and their spouses; 13 great-grandchildren; two great-great-granddaughters; numerous step-grandchildren, step-great-grandchildren; and step-great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Roy; granddaughter, Diana Hulick; and a brother, Ernest H. Morris.

Those wishing to make memorial contributions may send them to Parkinson Foundation or any charity in care of Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Baker City 97814.

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