FRANCIS: Laurie Jean Francis passed away on Sunday, April 20, 2014 at the Battlefords District Care Centre following a lengthy illness. Jean was born on July 17th, 1918 at home which was situated at 130 - 4th Avenue N.E. in Dauphin, Manitoba to Arthur Yates Macpherson and Greta Grant Macpherson (nee Murray) from Port Hawkesbury and Port Richmond, Nova Scotia respectively. Jean was predeceased by her beloved husband, Phil in 2011; her eldest brother, Hugh Macpherson; her elder sister, Rena Tennessy; her younger brothers, Murray, Donald and Stanley; her sisters-in-law, Mildred (Mike) Macpherson, Margaret Bridgeman, Margaret (Peggy) Francis; brothers-in-law, Tony Tennessy, Octavius (Jack) Bridgeman, Manley Francis and Tom Francis, and her nephew, Colin David Macpherson. Jean is survived by her brother, Fred Macpherson from Edmonton, Alberta, and many nieces and nephews and their families including Charleen Wiley and Katrice Balmer both from Vancouver, B.C., Tony Tennessy, Jr. from Burnaby, B.C., Timothy Tennessy from Prince George, B.C. and Michael Tennessy from Thornhill, B.C., Hugh Macpherson (Susan), Laurie Macpherson from Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.A., Barbara (Steve) Reyelts from Duluth, Minnesota, U.S.A., Morag Macpherson from Yellowknife, N.W.T., Donna Thachuk (Steve), Margo (Richard) Kolada and Karen Macpherson from Edmonton, Alberta, and Stuart Macpherson. Jean is also survived by Phil's nieces, Linda Dustan Selinger (Patrick) from Brandon, Manitoba, Marilyn Francis (Detlef) from Qualicum Beach, B.C.; great-nieces, Leanne Dustan (Mike Brazil) and their daughter, Ruby from Ottawa, Ontario, Lori Dustan Lafond (Darrell) and their daughters, Ayla, Riley and Maya from Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Lisa Dustan (Charles-Andre Maille) from San Diego, California. Jean relayed the story of being delivered at home by the doctor's wife; a nurse named Jean Patrick and that she was named after her. Jean's older brother, Hugh born in 1914 and older sister, Rena born in 1916 were also born in Dauphin, Manitoba. Previously, and before any of the children were born, Jean's father was a steam shovel operator working on the Panama Canal and her mother had operated a business college in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia. Subsequently, her parents moved from Nova Scotia to Manitoba as her father was employed as a brakeman and then as a conductor for Canadian National Railways. When Jean was less than two years of age, the family moved to Prince Albert, Saskatchewan as it was closer to Mr. Macpherson's train run. Four more brothers were born in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, namely, Stanley in 1920, Donald in 1922, Murray in 1924 and Fred in 1926. Murray died on September 23, 1926 from Meningitis. On November 22, 1928, Jean's father also died of Meningitis. Jean's mother had six children to care for who ranged in age from 14 to 2 and 1/2 years of age. Mrs. Macpherson's resolve was truly inspirational and Jean admired her greatly. Her organizational skills were exceptional and she modeled amazing strength in the face of adversity. Jean recalled her mother praying every night following the untimely death of her husband. Within a very short while she told her children that she was going to open a business school in Prince Albert. Indeed in 1929, Mrs. Macpherson opened the Syllabic Shorthand and Business College which she operated for approximately 20 years. At the same time, various students and various employees boarded at the Macpherson residence which was situated at 1919 Central Avenue in Prince Albert. Jean was a natural athlete and played the position of center field in softball and the position of guard in basketball. In addition, Jean was an accomplished skater, a swimmer and a diver and she admired her sister, Rena who could turn cartwheels on a high diving board. Jean learned to cook and clean from a young age and often said that she was one of the few women who knew how to cook before they got married! She learned her typing skills and her budgeting and accounting skills from her mother; she took piano lessons; went to the Presbyterian Sunday School and received a Bible in 1925 for perfect attendance. Jean graduated from Prince Albert Collegiate Institute in 1937 and went on to graduate as a registered nurse from Toronto General Hospital in 1941. Following that, she worked at the Toronto General Hospital for 18 months and then applied for her registration in Saskatchewan and continued her nursing career at the Royal Victoria hospital in Prince Albert. Wishing to contribute to the war effort, Jean took further training at the Canadian Forces Base in Dundurn, Saskatchewan and then attained the rank of 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Canadian Medical Army Corps as a Nursing Sister. Her first posting was in Saskatoon which involved standard nursing and then she was posted to the Military Hospital in Prince Albert looking after young soldiers while working both day and night shifts. Jean had met her future husband John Philip "Phil" Wiseman Francis in 1931. He was attending St. George's College and then went on to graduate from Prince Albert Collegiate Institute in 1932. Phil and Jean both went on to establish their careers. Her career was in nursing and his was in aviation, Phil returned home after the war in October of 1945 and on January 11, 1946, Phil and Jean were married. They were married for over sixty five years and they were a team. It wasn't that they never argued, but each of them seemed to know when to give way. Solutions were never thought of in win-lose terms. They were affectionate and would often be observed holding hands while they watched television together -- usually watching their beloved Saskatchewan Roughriders or Toronto Maple Leafs! Phil and Jean had moved to the Francis farm following their marriage and helped in the operation of the farm and the care of Phil's mother, Lucy Francis, who was 64 years of age at the time. From 1950 to 1952, Phil and Jean moved to Lac La Ronge, Saskatchewan where Phil was employed as a bush pilot with Saskatchewan Government Airways. They moved back to the farm and remained in the farming business in partnership with Phil's brother, Tom Francis for many years. Jean was blessed with an outgoing personality, a wonderful sense of humour and a clever and inquiring mind. She made friends easily and had your back when things needed to be confronted or others needed an advocate. Jean described her favourite colors as red and blue; her favourite flowers as yellow roses and sunflowers. She loved to dance and enjoyed any kind of music. She continued to like all sports including, but not limited to, Canadian football, hockey and baseball. In later years in North Battleford, she helped special needs children with their swimming classes. She also curled for several winters and participated in the ladies mixed bonspiels. Phil and Jean identified with Phil's brother Tom's passion for curling and made a point of attending the Curling Brier regardless of where it was held. Jean enjoyed reading and her favourite genres were history and mystery and she said that "she read everything in sight." She also enjoyed playing bridge and gardening. She planted a large garden every year and maintained the perennial border at the farm and mowed acres of grass! Her late father-in-law. Mr. John Francis wanted the flowers to be tended to as they used to do back in England. Jean found the life of farming to be quite a transition from urban living. Although trained as a nurse, Jean had well developed accounting skills and often said that "she liked working with numbers." She maintained all the farm books and did the income tax every year. Phil and Jean moved into a home that they built in Battleford in 1980. In 1993, they moved into a spacious condo, with a fantastic view from the third floor, at Ridgepoint Place which would continue to be their home until Phil passed away on July 10, 2011. Phil was a natural handyman and helped with many duties around the condo. Jean maintained her position as the treasurer at the condo for 17 years. Marilyn and Linda were the only two nieces on Phil's side of the family and both had the privilege of living in close proximity to Auntie Jean and Uncle Phil during their childhood and describe some of their more memorable experiences including the opportunity to get involved in baking or cooking; playing a game if she was up for it (because Jean ran the farm administration, there were a lot of supplies that could be used for a game of "Office"); or persuading Auntie Jean to go outside and turn a cartwheel or two for their entertainment. Auntie Jean always shared the news and photos and excitedly talked about all her Macpherson family. Her ability to remember detail about their latest adventures and accomplishments was amazing! Her nursing skills were put to use, patching up wounds, caring for various members of the family when they were ill and providing help and support to friends and neighbours when they or their families had need of it. Along with Mrs. Jean Bridge she taught Home Nursing to the girls in the local 4-H Homecraft club. While Grandma Francis (Phil's mother) ran a Sunday School from her own home on the property, Jean and Phil's kitchen became a Sunday morning gathering place while parents waited for their children to be dismissed from Sunday School. The kids of Marilyn and Linda's generation in the district knew Jean and Phil as Auntie Jean and Uncle Phil. As the years went by they also became Auntie and Uncle to the kids' kids, and Jean kept track of their lives, even as they grew up and moved away. Jean was there for family and friends and gave her time and attention so generously; we will all miss her dearly. Jean was a life member of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #9. The interment was held in the Legion Section, Town of Battleford Cemetery, Battleford, Saskatchewan. Memorials and Special Thanks The family wishes to extend their sincere appreciation for the excellent care provided to Jean from August, 2011 to April, 2014 by Mrs. Maureen Tatchell, R.N. and all the staff on ward 3 of the Battlefords District Care Centre; the care of Dr. Morton; the love of special friends including Bob and Betty Davidson, Shirley Spence, Gwen Ashley, Frances Mitchell, Betty Nelson, Margaret Kite, Albie Cave, Rob and Wendy Florence, Donna Light, Betty Ann Smart and Connie Mackrell and many, many others who regularly visited and helped and encouraged Jean in so many different ways to make her days a little brighter when her family was unable to be there. Jean's funeral was held at St. Paul's Anglican Church in North Battleford, Saskatchewan on May 2, 2014. The urn bearers were great-nieces Leanne Dustan, Lori Dustan Lafond and Lisa Dustan. We extend special thanks to Bob MacKay and all the staff at Battlefords Funeral Service for their excellent help, and to Canon Peter Norman for officiating the Funeral Service. We also extend special thanks to President Esther Delainey of the Royal Canadian Legion Branch #9 and to the veterans and comrades from Battleford Branch #9 and North Battleford Branch #70 of the Royal Canadian Legion who formed the honour guard and participated in the Funeral Service. A special thank you is extended to Bob Davidson in his delivery of the eulogy; the music ministry of Mrs. M. Junice Headley, organist and the St. Paul's Choir; Tricia Florence for her superb solo "In the Garden"; Bob MacKay for his solo "The Day Thou Gavest" and Gwen Ashley for the reading of Psalm 121. Donations in memory of Laurie Jean Francis may be made to the C.N.I.B. or to the Arthritis Research Foundation. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
