Leslie (Loveridge) Francis

Leslie Loveridge Francis, age 95, of Mapleton, passed away Wednesday, October 11, 2017. She was born November 23,1921, in Mapleton, Utah to Joseph LeRoy Loveridge and Grace Fullmer Loveridge. She married Reed Francis May 26,1941 in the Salt Lake LDS Temple and they celebrated their 76th wedding anniversary this summer.

Leslie dedicated her life to the Lord, her husband and her family. She served the Lord in many callings in the Church and loved to share her strong testimony of the gospel. After feeding and raising nine children Leslie and Reed decided to serve a mission. They ended up serving 4 missions between 1983 - 1991 to the Cook Islands, San Jose, California, Nauvoo, Illinois, and Lansing, Michigan. While in Nauvoo, Leslie met a woman that taught a painting class at night After taking the class, Leslie was hooked. After returning home Leslie fell in love with painting and even though her hands ached from arthritis she painted almost every day painting over 50 oil paintings before her eyesight failed her and she was forced to quit. She loved having her family near and spent time with them either over good food or a good game of cards.

Leslie is survived by her husband Reed and seven surviving children: Marvin (Jane) Francis, Robert (Dorothy) Francis, Steve (Desiree) Francis, JT (Josie) Fuller, Sam (Marilyn) Francis, Jay (Heidi) Francis; 32 grandchildren and 58 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brother Richard Loveridge, and sisters, Bethe Lambson, Nola Stubbs and Carol Jeanne Clark; her son Kent (Jani Lee) Francis and daughter Joann (Mike) Dover.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, October 18, 2017 at 11 a.m. in the Mapleton 8th Ward Chapel (Red Church) located at 1215 North 1000 West in Mapleton. Viewings will be held Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wheeler Mortuary, 82 West 400 North in Mapleton or Wednesday at the church one hour prior to the services. Burial will be in the Springvilie Evergreen Cemetery.