JOE FRANCIS

LAMAR- The family will receive friends immediately following a Masonic Rites Ceremony beginning at 3 p.m. Sunday, at Daniel Funeral Home, for Joe Wesley Francis, 60, Lamar, who died Wednesday evening, Feb. 7, 2018, surrounded by loved ones at his home. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Oakton United Methodist Church, followed by burial with full military honors at Memory Gardens Cemetery.

Memorial contributions are suggested to Watered Gardens Gospel Rescue Missions in Joplin or Oakton United Methodist Church Building Fund, in care of the funeral home.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.danielfuneralhome.net.

Survivors include his wife of 33 years, Lori; his mother, Maxine Francis, Lamar; daughters, Lindsay Lucas, Webb City and Hannah Jo Francis, of the home; grandchildren, Jackson Lucas, Wyatt and Parker Grace Lucas; his sister, Jill Jenkins and husband Marshal, Lamar; parents-in-law, Ken and Lana Barnes, Neosho; sister-in-law, Leslie Maberry and husband Shawn; nieces and nephews, Lauren Lehman and husband Roman, Landon Maberry and wife Taylor, Tisha Ramos and husband Fernando and Brian Jenkins, and a large extended family.

He was preceded in death by his father, Rex Francis, in 2002.

Mr. Francis was born Jan. 22, 1958, in Kansas City, Mo., was a 1976 graduate of Lamar High School and earned a nursing degree from Pittsburg State. A natural and compassionate caregiver, he touched countless lives throughout his career in Joplin and Carthage hospitals, as well as far from home during his 32 years as a medic in the Army National Guard. He was deployed to Iraq in 2008 and served there for 16 months. Regardless of the circumstances that caused their paths to cross, anyone who met him was encouraged by his positive outlook, uplifted by his quick wit and sense of humor, confident in knowing they had met a friend whose word could be trusted and were truly blessed by time spent with him.

On September 10, 1984, he married Lori Kennell and they made their home and reared their two daughters in Lamar. Mr. Francis’ remarkable life legacy is evidenced by the priority he placed on relationships and the devotion he had for God, his family, friends, co-workers and patients. He chose recreation that could be shared with family and friends, whether watching his beloved St. Louis Cardinals, golfing with his favorite girls, coaching youth baseball, or following any sport that involved his kids or grandkids. Active in his community, he was a member of Oakton United Methodist Church and Lamar Masonic Lodge, had served on the Barton County Ambulance Board and was a volunteer fireman for many years.