Elmer David Francis

On October 27, 2022, Elmer David “Dave” Francis of McConnelsville, Ohio, 75, passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his loved ones.  He was born on August 28, 1947 in Magoffin County, Kentucky to Roy Francis and Eva Caudill, as the eighth of nine children.  On October 23, 1965, Dave married the love of his life, Janet Fite, and together they raised three boys – Doug, Scott, and Jamie. 

Dave was a hard-working man who spent most of his working years building houses or driving a semi-truck.  Although he wasn’t a man of many words, his actions spoke volumes.  He was always willing to do whatever was necessary to provide for his family, including walking to work during a blizzard. 

Doug, Scott, and Jamie were each asked for one word that described their dad.  There were too many words to mention, but their first answers, respectively, were persevering, strong, and hard-working. 

A favorite pastime of Dave’s was playing guitar and singing country and bluegrass music, particularly with his family.  He was a competitive card player, never going easy on anyone else around the table.  It gave him great pleasure to “stick it” to Janet especially, and his mischievous smile was priceless when he did. 

In 1993, Dave and Janet bought property in McConnelsville.  They placed a simple house trailer on the property to start and then built their dream home around that trailer over the next decade.  Dave was a very gifted carpenter who could design and build most anything.  This property in McConnelsville is where Dave spent some of the happiest years of his life and where he wanted to spend his final moments. 

Even more than the home he built and the life he lived with Janet, his wife of 57 years, Dave was most proud of his three boys.    He spent many years working side-by-side with them both in construction and in trucking.    While the boys were learning life-long lessons and skills from their dad, they were also making memories that resulted in grand stories that will be told around the kitchen table for many years to come.   Dave’s grandchildren – 14 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren – love to hear the stories as much as the boys love to tell them.

Dave was preceded in death by his father, Roy Francis; mother, Eva (Caudill) Gillem and step father, Charles Gillem; brother, Thomas Francis; and sisters, Delpha Helen Francis, Gracie Smith, Marylene May, and Kathy Ward.

Per Dave’s request, no funeral service will be held.  A private memorial will be held, and his ashes will be spread on the property by those closest to him.