Vernon "Dell" Francis

Vernon “Dell” Francis, 84, Baker City, died Thursday, December 15, 2022 in La Grande at Grande Ronde Hospital with his longtime companion Bea by his side. A celebration of life will be held in the early summer, time and place to be announced.

Dell was born in Baker on April 11, 1938. He was raised in Baker County most of his life.  Dell was raised on Dry Creek where his family owned and ran a farm. He attended a one room school house on Alder Creek from 1st grade to the 6th grade. There were 12 girls and 1 boy and all the kids rode horses to school. He graduated from Baker High School and furthered his education at Oregon Tech in Klamath Falls. There he was able to explore his love for basketball, something he really enjoyed.

Dell worked at Dara Block and sold farmers life insurance until he became a meat cutter at Albertsons for 20 years. He then opened his own meat shop he named, “Dell’s Custom Meats”.

Dell loved to play backyard basketball and also played for years at the YMCA.  He liked bowling and played for many different leagues through the years. He had a great love for the outdoors. In the fall, his favorite time of year, he camped with his family for a month in different places while deer and elk hunting.  He had a passion for picking, buying and selling mushrooms.  Dell also enjoyed working in the flower bed and garden.  He liked the assortment of colors in the various flowers, but he especially liked roses. He also enjoyed watching old western movies.

  Dell loved teasing his grandchildren, making them laugh.  He loved to laugh and to get others to laugh. The love of his life was his family. He cherished talking about the old times including going mushroom picking and the many different hunting experiences.

Dell is survived by his soul mate Beulah Roberts of Baker City, OR; daughters Lorrie (Larry) Hill, Kelly (Christopher) Dougherty, Wade (Mary) Roberts, Kyle Roberts, Kirk Roberts; numerous grandchildren; great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents Roy and Verna Francis; daughter Diane Hulick; sister Wilma Bishop.

For those who would like to make a donation in memory of Dell, the family suggests the Billie Ruth Cancer Clinic through Tami’s Pine Valley Funeral Home, PO Box 543 Halfway, OR 97834. Online condolences can be shared at www.tamispinevallyfuneralhome.com