NORTH MANCHESTER – Velia Louise Francis, 73, loving wife, mother, daughter and grandmother went to join her savior Jesus Christ on Saturday, March 6, 2021, joining her husband, Edward, who passed away in 2004.
Velia was born on April 14, 1947, to Smith and Fanny F. Whitaker Helton in Paintsville, Johnson County, Ky.
Velia attended Sidney High School. On June 10, 1963, she married Edward L. Francis and they were wed for 41 years before Edward passed away on July 22, 2004. She adored her family and loved to cook and bake for them. She enjoyed her home projects and, according to her father, she loved her iced coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts and her kid’s laugh of her love for Alaskan crab legs.
The loving memory of Velia will be forever cherished by her father, Smith Helton, Fort Wayne; two sons: Jeffrey Francis, Fort Wayne; and Stephen (Melissa) Francis, Columbia City; one daughter, Kelly (Phil) Kiser, Fort Wayne; brother, Smith Ray (Teresa) Helton, Lake Villa, Ill.; grandchildren: Brieanne (Nate) Anderson, Madison (Paul) Robison, Mason Sell, Leslie Derossett, Kelsey (Kaleb) Clements; and great-grandchildren: Braxton Anderson, Jaxon Anderson, Emery Robison, Max Robison, Landon Clements, Wyatt Clements, Isaiah Bruner.
She was preceded in death by her mother and husband.
Family and friends may call today, March 9 from 4 to 7 p.m. at McKee Mortuary, 1401 Ind. 114 W., North Manchester. Funeral services for Velia will be held Wednesday, March 10, at 10 a.m., with Pastor John B. Lowe officiating. Burial will be held at Oaklawn Cemetery, 600 Beckley St., North Manchester.
Arrangements are entrusted to McKee Mortuary, North Manchester.
