| Obit For | Loren H. "Bill" Francis |
|---|---|
| Headline | LOREN FRANCIS FOUND DEAD IN HIS CAR BY
ROADSIDE THURSDAY Believed to Have Been Dead Four Hours When Discovered by Sheriff. |
| Text | The lifeless body of Loren (Bill) H. Francis, age 38, of Monett, for years a traveling salesman for Wilson & Company, meat packers, Kansas City, was accidentally discovered about 9:45 o'clock Thursday night, December 19, by Sheriff Evan Shore, in the front seat of his 1934 Ford Sedan, about three miles northeast of Cassville on Highway 44. Francis' clothing was drenched with blood. In front of him a .22 caliber rifle. The gun, with stock against the floor of the car in front of him, was griped in his right hand, and had apparently been discharged by using the fingers of his left hand to pull the trigger. The bullet entered the head under the chin and penetrated the brain. Sheriff Shore had driven out Highway 44 and over to Galena earlier in the evening and noticed the car in which Francis was later found, standing by the roadside. The sheriff says he just stopped for something and paid little attention to the car. Up-on his return he discovered the car was still standing by the roadside, and decided to stop and investigate. Approaching the car, he found Francis dead, his body slumped down in the seat. The sheriff rushed into town and took W.D. Koon, County Coroner back to the car with him. They brought the body to the Koon Funeral Home. Doctors Newman and Poor were called. Upon examining the body they found that the bullet had lodged in the brain, and found that the indications were the body had been lifeless for at least three or for hours. The watch on Mr. Francis' left wrist had a broken crystal and had stopped at 4:50 o'clock. It is believed that the crystal on the watch must have been broken at the time the gun was discharged and had stopped the hands on the face of the watch. If that theory is correct Mr. Francis had been dead about four hours when his body was discovered. Mr. Francis is a son of Judge W. S. Francis of Pioneer, a former Judge of the County Court of this county for the Western District. He had been living at Monett, that town being centrally located for his territory. Surviving him are his wife and a daughter, seven years old, his parents, and a brother, Maynard, a business man in Wheaton. "Bill", as his friends called him, was one of the most popular of all the commercial traveling men making this territory. He was of a genial disposition and made friends of everybody with whom he had business. Francis had stayed in Hollister the night before and during the day. Thursday was working the towns on his route, the last one for the day to be Cassville. Other traveling men who stopped at Hollister the night before and talked with Francis there say that he seemed to be in good spirits. Fenton Williams of Crane was one pf the merchants upon whom Francis called Thursday. Mr. Williams says he discovered nothing wrong with Francis' actions at that time which was only a short time before he ended his life. About eight o'clock Francis' wife, in Monett, had called to Cassville making inquiry about Francis whom she said she expected home that evening. Francis is said to have had a good business this year. He was an aggressive, but quiet, salesman and worked hard on his territory. County Coroner Koon held an inquest over the body Friday evening. The following composed the jury: Cass Jeffies, S.C. Mitchell, Glenn Truhitte, Harry Dillard, Steve Hailey, and U.F. Hutchens. The verdict of the jury was that Francis came to his death from a gunshot wound either self-inflicted or by accident. The body was taken Saturday evening to the home of his father, Judge W. S. Francis at Pioneer where it remained until it was taken to the Munsey Chapel Sunday afternoon for the funeral services, which was held there at 2 o'clock. The funeral service was conducted by Rev. Luther Carlin of Pierce City assisted by J. W. Rife. Burial was made in the Munsey Chapel cemetery with Masonic Honors. A large number of Masons of the Wheaton, Monett and Cassville lodges attended. The immense throng of people attending the funeral was a testimonial of the high esteem in which the family was held and the popularity of the deceased who had hosts of friends all over this part of the county. The W. H. Koon Funeral Service was in charge. At the funeral the following obituary was read: Loren Hurshel Francis was born near Pioneer, Mo., January 25, 1897 and departed this life December 16, 1935, at the age of 37 years, 10 months and 20 days. He was a son of W. S. and Ida Francis. He was married to Lilly Davis October 26, 1924. To this union one child was born, Sarah Helen, age 7 years. He was converted and joined the Baptist church at Fairview, Mo., at the age of 15, and since residing in Monett he and his family attended the M. E. church. He was a associated in business with his father and brother until 12 years ago when he became a traveling salesman for the Wilson Packing Co., which position he filled with credit and honor to his company as well as to himself. It has been said of him by his District Manager that he was one of the most loyal and faithful of their employees. He is survived by his wife and daughter, his father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. W. S. Francis and sister, Velma, of Pioneer, Mo., one brother, M.. Francis of Wheaton, Mo., and a host of other relatives and friends. |
| Newspaper or Funeral Home | Cassville Republican |
| Date | Dec. 26, 1935, Thursday |
| Death Cert Link | - |
| Resource | - |
| Submitted by | Jack Fly |
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