Francis L. North

FRANCIS L. NORTH

Francis Leroy North, our father, was born to Francis T. and Bonnie (Young) North on Dec 3, 1943 at Leroy, KS.
He quietly passed away at Yates Center Heath and Rehab in Yates Center, KS, just reaching the
age of 78 years on Dec 4, 2021.

He grew up in the Wilson County, KS area with his 6 sisters and 3 brothers and
spent happy times at his Grandparents home. He often talked of hauling hay and slinging bales together with his brothers. As a young man he served four years in the US Air Force, stationed at Altus Airforce Base in Altus, Oklahoma.

The Howard Hughes family took a special interest in the North family and thru them Dad and his brother Estel became acquainted with the Church of God in Christ Mennonite. At the age of 30, upon true repentance and faith in God, he was baptized into this church at Fredonia, KS by Min Milton Koehn. He had many struggles in life but in his later years he recommitted his life to God.

While visiting Estels in Crooked Creek he met and fell in love with our mother, Eva Doerksen who was working at a Children’s home there. They were joined in marriage at Cartwright, MB on Sept 5, 1976.
To this union were born 2 daughters and 3 sons.

Dad lived at numerous places including Cartwright, MB; Bonners Ferry, ID; Arizona; and Tulsa, OK, but his Kansas roots always pulled him back again. The congregation of Versailles, MO started their private school in 1978 and Dad and Mom moved there for the winter so Dad could teach school for them. Dad tried various occupations thru his life, including security guard at schools and motels, carpentry, mechanics, building fences, working at a foundry and painting water towers. Working in the bush, cutting and hauling firewood to sell, was his speciality, and we all learned to haul and stack wood. He loved the berries and wildlife, bringing home wild creatures to show us.

After 8 short years of married life, when their baby was 10 days old, his precious companion was suddenly called home to Heaven, leaving him devastated with five young children to care for. Eleven years later his youngest son, Steven was tragically killed in a bicycle accident in Cartwright, MB leaving him heartbroken once again. Dad had a special knack with little children, they were drawn to his quiet way. He showed his love to the older children with gifts of money, old coins and candies. Collecting old coins was a lifetime hobby of his.

His later years were spent living with his sister, Mary, in Tulsa, OK before moving to the
Yates Center Rehab where he was cared for in his declining health.
Those left to treasure memories are his children; Rose & Kurt Warkentin of Bethel Springs, TN; Lonnetta & Rod Barkman of Cartwright, MB; William & Marie North of Alexandria, ON; Marcus & Burnette North of Sunnyslope, AB;
11 granddaughters and 7 grandsons.

Special family friends; Cameron & Shirley Jantz, Fredonia, KS and Arnold & Caroline Blosser, Safe Haven, MO. His brothers and sisters; Estel & Ann North, McVeytown, PA; Kenny & Editha North, Lincoln, NB; Mary Robinson, Tulsa, OK; Hazel Sears, Derby, KS; brothers-in-law, Frank Farmer, Warsaw, OK; Clyve Pope, Cherokee, KS; Eva’s brothers and sisters; Les & Denise Doerksen, Aylmer, ON; Allen & Rosena Doerksen, Cartwright, MB; Bruce & Gwen Doerksen, Pine River, MB; Norma Doerksen, Cartwright, MB; Melinda & Delbert Ensz, Bow Island, AB; Amanda & Galen Toews, Cartwright, MB; Hannah & Dennis Toews, Creston, BC.

Preceding him in death were his wife, 1 son, his parents, his parents in law, 4 sisters, 1 brother and 6 half siblings.