Harry Lewis Francis

AUBURN -- Harry Lewis Francis, 96, a recent recipient of the Boston Post Cane for Dixfield, died on Apr. 30, 2012, at the Androscoggin Hospice House in Auburn.

He was born on Dec. 23, 1915, in Otisfield, a son of Elroy Boardman and Hazel (Briggs) Francis. He was educated in Dixfield schools and went on to take business courses at LaSalle Classical Institute.

In 1939, he married Ruth Wright Jacobs. She died in 1995. They made their home in Dixfield where he worked as a manufacturing supervisor for Stowell MacGregor from 1938-60.

He later worked at Forster Manufacturing in Stratton as the vice president and general manager and also at Banton Brothers in Newport as general manager.

During the interim, he owned and operated Francis Market in Dixfield from 1967-73. He returned to Stowell MacGregor in 1970 as a sales manager, retiring in 1981.

Harry was a life member of the Sugarloaf Grange and was active over the years in the Dixfield Historical Society, Dixfield Fire Department, the local Lions Club, was a Dixfield Library Trustee and involved in the Dixfield Planning Board. He enjoyed vegetable gardening, fishing and the Boston Red Sox.

He is survived by his companion of six years, Genella Wright Deberri of Dixfield; his children, Llewellyn Keith Francis and his wife, Helen of Searsport, George

Louie Jacobs and his wife, Patricia “Pat” of Greene and Joyce Jacobs Andrews of Portland; eight grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren; siblings, Quimby Francis of Mechanic Falls, Florence “Skeet” Wright of North Jay and Christine Hoffman of Hartford, CT.

He was predeceased by a companion, Margo Cunningham; grandchildren, Matthew Lanpher and Lynne Giles; and siblings, Alice Whittemore, Harland, Omar and Bernice Francis.