Don Charles Francis

Don C. Francis was born on May 29, 1931, in Lyndon, Kansas. He passed away December 30, 2024, at the Hoeger House in Olathe, Kansas. He was preceded in death by his parents, John A. and Lucille H. Francis of Mission, Kansas, and his wife, Jeannine A. Francis (McQuillen) of Prairie Village, Kansas. He is survived by his wife Cindy Ford Francis of Olathe, Kansas; his children Donna Shelton, PhD (Richard) of Oriskany, New York; Cathy Sullivan of Overland Park, Kansas; John M. Francis (Kim) of Shawnee, Kansas; Jim Francis (Jane) of Stilwell, Kansas; his grandchildren Christy Faber (Brandon), Ally Heiserman (Jake), Ryan Sullivan, AJ Francis (Sarah Margaret); three great-grandchildren, Olivia, Sadie, and Hank; and his sister Carole Eckenrode (Norman) of Placentia, California. Don will also be greatly missed by Cindy’s children and Grandchildren: Mark Ford-deceased (Christy), Melanie Hayes (Todd), Rachel Ridler (Ben), Olivia Ford (Manny), Andrew Hayes (Aunnie), Peter Hayes and Sophie Hayes.

The Francis family moved from Lyndon, Kansas to Johnson County, Kansas in the mid-1930s. Don attended Shawnee Mission Rural High School, where his father, John Francis, was a teacher and band director. Don spent his high school years playing in the band and on the basketball and football teams. An avid trombone player, Don started a dance band that performed at many locations around the area and at some smaller college venues.

During his junior year in high school, Don met Jeannine A. Mc Quillen, who was a senior. Don graduated from Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta Fraternity. Don and Jeannine got married on April 20, 1954. Their marriage lasted 53 years until Jeannine passed away in 2007.

Shortly before getting married, Don was drafted by the U.S. Army and was stationed at Camp Chaffee, Arkansas. After his service, Don worked at one of his father’s restaurants, Fran’s Café in Kansas City. It was during this time that Don and his parents began planning to open a new restaurant in an area that would later become part of downtown Overland Park. The John Francis Restaurant opened for business on February 5, 1958. The two locations of Fran’s Café in Kansas City were sold a few years later. Don was part-owner and manager at John Francis Restaurant from 1958 until the family sold the restaurant in 1988. Don received the Kansas Restaurateur of the Year award in 1981.

Don met Cindy Ford at BreakPoint Community Church where they were married on September 4, 2010. In 2011 they built a home in Olathe where they resided until Don’s death.

Don was an avid duck and quail hunter and loved to fish. Besides hunting and fishing, Don had a passion for the fire service. He served as a volunteer firefighter on the Overland Park Fire Department in the 1970s and earned the rank of Volunteer Assistant Fire Chief. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to Ducks Unlimited. (www.ducks.org/get-involved/memorial-giving)

A visitation will be held at the Garrett Chapel, Church of the Nazarene, 2020 E. Sheridan Street, Olathe, Kansas, on Friday, January 17th at 10 AM. Funeral services will be held at the Garrett Chapel at 11 AM on January 17th. The Garrett Chapel entrance is located east of the main church and is accessible off E. Sheridan Street, just west of Murlen Rd.