November 14, 1923 - August 29, 2009
Julia "Chip" Marley (Inman) Francis Obituary
(Age 85)
Passed away on August 29, 2009 in Spokane Valley, WA at Sullivan Park Convalescent Center. Julia was born 7th of 11 children to William John Henry Inman and Julia Ann (Parton) Inman. She was born in Haywood County, NC November 1923. She and Herb moved to Clayton, WA in August of 1952. Shortly thereafter, they moved to Deer Park where she resided until 2003 when due to memory loss and other health issues, she went to Park Place Assisted Living. Julia was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years, Herbert S. Francis, her only son Herbert Kenneth Francis, and one daughter, Lillian B. (Francis) Coffin, one great grandson Joshua Hunter Francis, her parents and several siblings. She is survived by three daughters Edna (Randall) Knapp of Colville, WA, Ursula (James) Mittlestedter of Deer Park, and Kathleen (Charles) Ewart of Spokane Valley, WA; one daughter-in-law Judy Francis of Spokane Valley and another son-in-law Pete Coffin of Deer Park. Her remaining siblings are Edna McCarter of Canton, NC, Ruth Cole of Valdese, NC, and Cedric (Virgie) Inman of Hazelwood, NC; two sisters-in-law Mary Inman and Evelyn Inman and numerous nephews and nieces. Julia doted on her 14 grandchildren and was never happier than when surrounded by those she loved. She had 32 great grandchildren and 17 great great grandchildren. Her heart knew no boundaries and with each new child her heart would expand to love just one more. All her children and grandchildren loved her biscuits. Hot or cold, we rummaged her cupboards for those wonderful biscuits that only she could make. Sometimes her family, especially the grandkids, would leave her house with biscuits in their pockets. Julia's greatest legacy to her family is her great belief in God. She was a founding member of the Deer Park branch of the Church of the Nazarene. She never faltered in her Christian beliefs. She taught us all to love and to share and worked to keep all of her large family on the path of righteousness. We were never too old to be chided by her if we strayed from what she felt was right before God. She was not ever willing to compromise her belief for the sake of expediency. She was a long time member of the Women's Temperance Christian Union. She took us to church and sent us when she could not go. It was not uncommon to hear her reading her Bible aloud; she was fearless in the face of unbelief and often bore her testimony. We will sorely miss our dear mother and grandmother. She truly was the salt of the earth. We are comforted to know that she taught us the sure and certainty of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Mom we love you and will miss you until we are all reunited in Heaven. We are sure our Savior met her with a "well done my good and faithful servant". At her request, her pallbearers will be her grandsons: Robin, Darren, and Jeremy Knapp; Blaine, Daniel, and Patrick Francis; Kurt and Kenneth Mittlestedter; Eric Coffin; Ed and Brian Ewart. Honorary pallbearers are Robert "Bob" Lane and Christopher Jacobs. She will be laid to rest next to her husband Herbert Francis at Fairmount Memorial Park Cemetery in Spokane, WA. A viewing will be held Tuesday, September 1, 2009 at Heritage Funeral Home from 12 to 5 p.m. Funeral services will be at the Deer Park Church of the Nazarene Wednesday, September 2nd at 1 pm. Contributions may be made to American Diabetes Association or Alzheimer's Association.
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