Monday, July 10th, 1944 - Friday, November 13th, 2020
Graveside services for Robert Lawrence, Larry, Francis 76, Enid Oklahoma will be held Thursday December 3rd, 2020 at 2:00 pm at Memorial Park Cemetery Bartlesville Oklahoma under the direction of Ladusau-Evans Funeral Home. He passed away Friday November 13th, 2020 in Wichita Kansas.
Robert Lawrence (Larry) Francis was born July 10, 1944 in Phoenix, Arizona to June Loretta Beck Francis (Mayhue) and Charles Logan Francis.
He started school in Borger Texas in 1950 and then moved to Bartlesville Oklahoma and attended 3rd grade at Highland park in 1952. Larry earned his Eagle scout in 1958. He attended Central middle school and graduated from College High School in 1962. He entered Oklahoma State University in the fall of 1962 and pledged Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He was named Outstanding Delt in 1966. Larry graduated OSU in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Home Economics with a major in Hotel and Restaurant Management. He worked for the Holiday Inn in Bartlesville the summer of 1966. Larry enlisted in the navy September 1966 and received the commission as Ensign. He was assigned to Guantanamo Naval Base Cuba in charge of the Bachelor officer’s quarters. He helped to design and supervise the building of the new BBQ on the base and had charge of purchasing of equipment and furnishings. He served all his time at Gitmo. He became Lt. J.G. of the Navy, October 1968. Larry received an honorable discharge from the Navy October 1969. He then went to work for the Holiday Inn in Memphis Tennessee as an instructor for its innkeeper school. Larry married Cynthia Shobe Richards January 24th, 1970. He had an instant family with Cynthia’s daughters Shawn and Jeanie. JJ joined the family December 17, 1971.
He resigned in June of 1972 to become assistant manager of the Holiday Inn in Bartlesville Ok. In August of 1972 he was promoted to Innkeeper. He was promoted again in 1973 to Vice President of the Board. Larry started taking computer classes at Tulsa Community College in January of 1980 and finished with a 4.0. In May of 1980 he resigned from Holiday Inn and started working at TRW Reda pump as a computer Analyst. He was promoted to Sr Applications Specialist in February 1981. Larry and the family moved to Singapore for him to set their computer system there. He retired from Schulmberguer. Larry and Cynthia attended First united Methodist church in Bartlesville and were active in the family campers. Cynthia passed January 15, 2009. Larry met and married Esther Leachman Sept 5th, 2011. Larry enjoyed his retirement with his wife Esther. Where he gained a sister n law Kathy and her husband Steve Flowers and a brother n law John and Doris Stoll. They went on many trips to the National Parks and went to as many of his grandkid’s softball games and band concert as possible. They owned a home in Recon West in Tucson Arizona to escape the cold weather that winter brings. He enjoyed many card games with his friends especially hand and foot. He was an active member of the Emmanuel Church in Enid Oklahoma and loved all the amazing people he met there.
Larry was preceded in death by his first wife Cynthia Francis, his parents June and Charles Francis, step father Frank Mayhue, his Aunt Margaret Beck, his grandparents and Bertha Beck.
He was loved by his wife Esther, his brother Dick Francis, 3 daughters Shawn Jeanie and JJ, step daughter Deirdre and her husband Jimmy, 12 grandkids and 6 great grandkids.
Condolences may be made to the family online at www.LadusauEvans.com. Ladusau-Evans has been serving the families of the Enid Community and surrounding areas for over 40 years with compassionate service and dedication. They provide families with an open door policy. Feel free to contact them 24 hours a day. Visitation Hours: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm daily, 2800 N. Van Buren, Enid, OK 73703. Call: (580) 233-1400.
Obituaries are posted, in part, due to the generosity of The Commons.
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