Beckham County, OK - Obits: William Pearl Francis, 1923
03 Feb 2008
Submitted by: delma25@pldi.net (Delma Tindell)

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FRANCIS, WILLIAM PEARL
(29 Nov 1923, Thursday, Elk City News Democrat, Elk City, Beckham Co, OK):
After an illness of several months William P. Francis died Sunday
afternoon, October (sic) 25th in his 79th year.  The body laid in state at
Grubitz & Son Undertaking Parlors Monday from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., after
which the body was taken to Ural, where funeral services were conducted by
Rev. E. D. Hamilton and interment made in the Ural cemetery.
Col. Francis was a representative of old Roger Mills county, also was a
senator from this district in the early day, and did much in helping to
shape the laws of this state.  He was a soldier in the Confederate Army,
and held important offices in their organization of this state.  He was
buried in his suit of gray of which he thought so much.  When able he
never missed one of their reunions.
Among those in attendance at the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Francis
and Bruce Francis of Amarillo; C. W. Francis of Stamford, Texas and Troy
Francis of Oklahoma City.
William Pearl Francis was born in Paris, Texas, April 11th, 1845.  His
early life was spent in Paris, he being the youngest of a family of four
children, three sisters having preceded him in death.  He joined the
Confederate army when sixteen years of age and served his country for four
years under command of Capt. Harmon in Co. 29th Texas Cavalry.
He was married to Helen Lucinda Johnson of Paris, June 3rd, 1868.  To this
union ten children were born, three of whom with his wife and mother have
passed on to the spirit land.  He moved his family to Greer county in 1888
where they lived until he made the run into the Cheyenne and Arapaho
country in 1892, settling on a claim in the Ural neighborhood.
The hospitality of this home established in the new country was known far
and wide and travelers drove for miles to reach the home of Mr. and Mrs.
Francis where they were assured of a warm welcome, plenty to eat and feed
for their teams.  They helped new settlers in every way possible,
ministering to their needs in sickness and in health.
After the death of his wife in 1899 he moved to Elk City and took an
active part in affairs of the town.  He loved to associate with his
friends and confederate veterans.  He was instrumental in organizing a
camp in Elk City, practically all of its members having answered the call
to come up higher.  He never missed a reunion as long as he was able to
attend.  He was an earnest reader of the Bible and loved to worship in the
Baptist church to which he belonged.
Funeral services were conducted by his pastor, Rev. E. D. Hamilton,
assisted by Dr. Jester, who had been his physician and close friend for
many years and who had officiated in the same capacity at the time of his
wife's death, at the grave in the Ural cemetery, the body being laid to
rest on the family lot.
CARD OF THANKS
We wish to thank our friends and neighbors in Elk City and the Ural
neighborhood for their kindness and heart felt sympathy in the death of
father and grand-father.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Francis.
Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Francis.
C. M. Francis.
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Francis.
T. A. Francis.

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