Shirley Francis

Shirley Penrod Francis, 70, of Springfield, Mo., died Friday, June 3, 2005, at Mercy-St. John's Regional Health System in Springfield.

She was born Jan. 28, 1935, at Sank, Mo., daughter of Floyd and Emma Williams Vavak. She and Ivan E. Francis were married April 3, 1983, in Las Vegas, Nev.

Francis was a graduate of Central High School and Southeast Missouri State University. She received her master's degree from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Francis was a teacher for 23 years, finishing her career in Jackson. She taught home economics at Jackson High School from 1964 to 1983, and moved to Springfield after her teaching career. She was a member of Second Baptist Church in Springfield.

Survivors include her husband; a daughter, Jeffrie A. Penrod of San Francisco, Calif.; two stepdaughters, Sue Green and husband Stan of Tulsa, Okla., Vicki Laughlin and husband Craig of Plano, Texas; a brother, Johnny Vavak of Cape Girardeau; a sister, Wanda Borum of Cape Girardeau; and four stepgrandchildren.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Ed Meyer officiating. Burial will be in Bollinger County Memorial Park at Marble Hill, Mo.