Obituary of Edward Freeman Moore Francis

It is with great sadness we announce the passing of Edward Francis. Funeral Service to take place 11:00am Saturday, June 18th, 2011, at the Timberland Church. Lunch to follow at the Golden Ring Seniors Hall in Leoville. Husband, father, grandpa, and friend. Edward, better known by most as Ed or Sonny was born in Eatonia on September 2, 1932. Ed moved to Timberland in the spring of 1933, where he attended school until he took on the farm. Ed met Annie in 1957 and they started their life together, raising a family on the farm. Ed worked at farming for years but found bushwork and mechanics were his calling. There wasn't a motor he couldn't take apart and put back together in his younger days. Ed was known for his art of welding and most everyone around can talk of Ed's fine works of art. In 1993 they sold the farm and moved into Leoville. They were there for a few years, went to Meadow Lake for a few more years, later coming back to their roots in Spiritwood. Many weekends were spent in someone's kitchen strumming his guitar and singing all the old tunes. Those were the days with good friends and family. Over the past few years Ed went down a hard trail and put up a brave and courageous fight with his illness. He spent a lot of time in and out of hospitals from Saskatoon, Shellbrook, Meadow Lake and the Leoville Respite Unit, last the Lodge in Spiritwood, where he called home for the past year. He will be remembered for all the little things that mattered; a hot spoon to get you going or calling you a girl or boy when you wondered if he knew which one you were. Those are the memories that everyone will treasure. Ed will be forever loved and cherished by his wife Annie and children: Leo Girouard of Rabbit Lake, Sk; Irene Girouard ( Les Turner )of Battleford, Sk. & children -Conrad and Larry Girouard, & Cory and Mackee Delorme; Linda (Stanley Dahl) of Glen Harbour, Sk. & children - Leanne and Kellli Dahl; Audrey (Neil East) of Meadow Lake, Sk. & children - Trenton (Karen Richinski), Kurt (Amy), and Kent (Kali); Robert (Christine Francis) of Melfort, Sk. & children - Orlean (Derek Langan), Tyrone (Cecilia Kaiswatum), and Tiffany; Darcy (Tammy) of WEyburn, Sk. & children Shannon Francis and Tanner Attwood, Melissa Francis and Austin Eckel, and sixteen great-grandchildren. Ed will also be forever loved and cherished by his brother Wilf (June) of Ashmont, Alta; sisters: Inez Francis of Saskatoon, Martha Bennet of Moose Jaw, & Audrey (Doug Stark) of Moose Jaw and numerous nieces and nephews. Ed was predeceased by his parents- Christine & Ed Francis, a daughter- Christine Summers, a brother - Thomas(Bud) Francis, his sisters - Edna, Leona, May and Kay, a grandson Joseph Girouard and his great grand-daughter Ashlyn Dahl. Email condolences will be forwarded to the family.