Lelah Edna Warren

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• _UID: AB4536BCD80E43EBA90DC624D4ACD58B765A

Family/Spouse: Oren Bruce Francis. Oren was born on 10 May 1878 in Burr Oak, Jewell County, Kansas, USA; died on 6 Jun 1939 in Fullerton, Nance County, Nebraska, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: 9D6F957FBD2F47CB847466B2EA137D963E4F

Notes:

When Letha was 24 she ran away from home ending up in Denver, Colorado. There she worked as a cashier at a diner in the local train depot. (This is where she met Don). During this time she lived in an all-girl boarding house that had a curfew. But the gang would always stay out too late and Letha would have to sneak in at three or four in the morning. Her circle of friends started to pair up and get married. This is when Don and Letha thought, why not? So they promptly tied the knot. They were married on March 14, 1930. When a rowdy group of friends came to charivari them on their wedding night Don and Letha scurried up into the attic to hide.

Letha was unable to have children of her own. Together they adopted and raised Twanakay Leonard (Russell) and Terry Lee Russell. Letha also raised three of her ten grandchildren, Dody Buchanan, Camby Russell and Kimberly Davis (me!). We called her Mom, and we were raised as her children using her last name Russell. She truly was our mom, in fact she was mom to everyone that met her and they were family to her. Mom had the ability to bring people together, she was the glue in our lives.

Letha was born on December 21, 1906 in Burr Oak, Kansas to Oren Bruce Francis (Bruce)and Lelah Edna(Warren) Francis. Her grandparents (pioneers) moved to Kansas by covered wagon when it was still Indian territory. They lived first in dug outs adding sod houses to them later on. Her family was of sturdy stock, they worked hard and saved their money. When the family could they built wood framed homes. Letha's grandfather O.W. Francis built the finest house in Jewell County Kansas. It must be true because he had postcards printed out that said so. She was born and raised on a farm just to the north of Burr Oak, Kansas. Letha could garden, can foods, sew, knit, tat lace, crochet, repair furniture, walls and even plumbing in a pinch. She loved to document our lives and picture taking was a more then a hobby to her. Mom raised us knowing that she didn't raise quitters, She raised people that could.

Mom loved adventure and would often on a whim turn off to see a two-headed snake or an assortment of rare rocks. Once she drove hours out of her way to see the London Bridge in Arizona. She thought it was going to be a 20 minute drive however, someone had mixed up the road signs so it was more like two to three hours away, but we made it there.
As a girl it was a thrill for me to walk in the house after school and be greeted by Bing Crosby singing along with the smell something wonderful that she was putting together for supper. Mom was a wonderful cook , I have never met anyone that could match her home cooked meals.
Our grandfather Donald passed away February 8,1961 leaving Mom on her own with three small girls. Money was tight for her but we never knew it. She had that knack of knowing which toy was the most important to get at Christmas and how to make ends meet. She often sat up all night sewing new clothes for us, she even made our prom dresses.
In her life Mom attended Wesleyan College, worked as a housekeeper, cashier and became a licensed beautician. At the beginning of WWII Don and Letha moved to La Jolla, California with her brothers Dallas, Doyle, Vaughn and Verlin The men worked in a plane factory while mom stayed home and took care of the family. Later Grandma Francis joined them so mom could work at the factory also. However, if you asked her which job she loved the most she would say the one as a mother.

In her life Letha lived in Burr Oak,Kansas; Fullerton and Sidney, Nebraska; Springfield,Illinois; Denver,Colorado; Oregon; Boise, Idaho; La Jolla, Los Angeles, Pomona and finally Lompoc,California. She and her husband even owned a tobacco plantation in Fayette,Missouri back in the 30's.
Her life was lived for her children, especially her three girls Dody, Camby and Kimberly. She gave all she had to us and I miss her terribly.

[[Letha was proceeded in death by both of her parents and her husband Donald. She was joined by her son Terry; her daughter Twanakay. Her grandson Tony Russell of Las Vegas, Nevada. Her brothers Dallas Francis and his wife Mary of Fullerton, Nebraska; Doyle Francis and his wife Agnes of Elba, Nebraska; Vaughn Francis and his wife Edna of Fullerton, Nebraska. She is survived by her brother Verlin Francis and his wife Elaine of Wayne Nebraska. Seven grandchildren: Dody Gonzales and her husband Jessie of Wes Allis,WI; Camby Caracoza of Garden Grove,California; Kimberly Jankowski and her husband Richard of Lincoln,Nebraska; Parrish Leonard and his wife Kami of Brennen,Texas; Charri Jung and her husband T.J.of Florida; Shane Leonard of Texas; Terry Russell of Las Vegas, Nevada. Two Step grandchildren Rick Leonard and Tammy Hill (Leonard).Great,grand children: Ian Quandt; Sean Quandt; Deidra Frey; Sarah (Caracoza)& David Brunet; Barbara Marie(Bobbi Caracoza)& Tony Leonard; Robin Caracoza; Dakota Caracoza; Brandon Davis; Lauree Jankowski; Ashley Leonard; Shelby Leonard; Ryan Smith; Karen Smith; Amber Leonard; Tara Gurley; Larry Gurley; Joshua Collins; Leah Leonard; Lacey Leonard and Laine Leonard plus a myriad of great,great grand children.]]

Letha married Donald E. Russell on 14 Mar 1930. Donald was born on 23 May 1910 in , , Nebraska, USA; died on 8 Feb 1961 in , Los Angeles County, California, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: 7FFFEB58546F4C4986A55DAF1FC891B67E69

Dallas married Mary L. Sobotka in Feb 1935. Mary was born on 11 May 1910 in Fullerton, Nance County, Nebraska, USA; died on 22 Jun 2007 in Evans, Weld County, Colorado, USA; was buried in Fullerton, Nance County, Nebraska, USA, Fullerton Cemetery. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: 15FF49245EEF4783A8C247E1B09FC3609C41

Doyle married Agnes Irene Russell on 26 Nov 1941 in Oakland, Burt County, Nebraska, USA. Agnes was born on 11 Dec 1921 in , , Nebraska, USA; died on 7 Nov 2013 in St. Paul, Howard County, Nebraska, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: BF1F8531C9DA45C2AC1FFD8004D601FF600C

Notes:

FULLERTON — Vaughn Francis, 94, of Fullerton died Thursday April 24, 2014, at Litzenberg Long Term Care in Central City.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the United Methodist Church in Fullerton. The Rev. Val Warman will officiate. Burial will be in the Fullerton Cemetery. Palmer Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Mr. Francis was born Dec. 16, 1919, at Burr Oak, Kan., to Oren B. and Lelah (Warren) Francis.

In 1926, the family moved to Fullerton. He attended Fullerton schools, graduating from Fullerton High School in 1938. On Nov. 24, 1942, he married Edna Hellbusch. They farmed their whole life in Nance County. In 1987, they moved into Fullerton. His wife, Edna, died Oct.5, 1992.

Vaughn continued to farm until 2003, when he retired. He remained in his home until the past four months when he resided at Long Term Care in Central City.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church in Fullerton for 80 years.

His hobbies included farming and raising cattle. He enjoyed work and his grandchildren.

Survivors include one grandson and his wife, Brian and Bobbie Francis of Belgrade; one granddaughter and her husband, Jennifer and Greg Lani of Fullerton; one granddaughter-in-law and her husband, Melanie and Adam Pryor of Woodbine, Iowa; one brother and sister-in-law, Verlin and Elaine Francis of Wayne; and seven great-grandchildren, Wyatt Pryor, Layne Pryor, Jax Pryor, Brody Pryor, Katy Pryor, Kolt Francis and Kindall Francis.

He was preceded in death by his wife; his only son, Larry Francis; grandson, Randy Francis; two brothers, Doyle and Dallas; and one sister, Letha.

Vaughn married Edna M. Hellbusch on 24 Nov 1942. Edna was born on 1 Jul 1922; died on 5 Oct 1992. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: 593E7BFEDCFD4BC888C89777408BD4A19A76

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: F48D6FC5BA1D4F1B95BF956F45ADB6473DEE

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• _UID: 89F2E3C1ED1A4BACBFD225A81177C68750C1

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• _UID: 7E1A48C1B3474365907D9423E3BDF517B395

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• _UID: 1FA29D0FB2BC44A1831CA5F12739A715119D