Mr. Carl L. Francis

Carl Lewis Francis, 78, was born on December 31, 1945 to the parents of James & Mossie Lee Francis in Kansas City, MO. He was the 9th of 11 children born to this union. His parents, siblings, Betty Jean, Kenneth, James, Charles Edward, Earl, Beverly, John Edward, Emma Maxine and Eleanor all preceded him in death. Carl was a lifelong resident of Kansas City, MO and did not desire to live anywhere else. He was educated in the KCMO public schools and graduated from Manual High School in 1963. His talents lied in auto mechanics and general maintenance; he was good at fixing anything. Carl accepted Christ at an early age and attended Cain Grant A.M. E. Church with his large extended family for many years. He later attended Western Bible College and became an ordained minister. He traveled and attended many churches in small towns surrounding Kansas City. Carl went wherever the Lord sent him. He was inspirational in starting weekly Bible study classes for seniors in the senior living complex where his sister lived for family and friends and he continued holding Bible study for himself and others long afterwards. He preached at many churches throughout the city and also many funerals. He was our family's #1 go-to person for prayer, guidance and a kind listening ear. In 1983, after a near tragic accident, he was burned while working on a car as a mechanic, as a result he was hospitalized in K.U. Medical Center for over 6 months receiving skin grafts to repair burned parts of his body. God, however, spared his life and he recovered to be with us for many more years. As a result, he was considered disabled but was able to continue living the life God had in store for him. Long before he had children of his own, he was a father/uncle to the many children in our family. Carl is the father of Carla and Derek, and he co-parented with Doris Bigham to raise them. They shared a love for their children, for God, church and the Word. Everyone knew where he spent his time and it was always with family. If we couldn’t find him, we knew Doris’ phone number by heart and knew to call him there and she would know where he was. Baseball was his passion, so with the help of family members, and his assistant coach, Murray Ellis, he started coaching little league baseball. It began with the kids in the family who looked forward to playing in the summer just for fun. Whatever vehicle Carl had, it would always accommodate all of the kids that he would pick up for baseball. Not only did the boys play baseball but he picked up the girls too because they were the cheerleaders. He made sure that all had uniforms and he even helped the girls with their cheers. They would play teams and only his teams had cheerleaders. The entire summer was consumed with Carl and his baseball team and cheerleaders. At the end of the summer, he would hold an awards ceremony and give out trophies and certificates to each player and cheerleader. For many years Coach Carl organized kids, the families kids and so many more with baseball and cheerleading, giving them something to do and something for him to look forward to each summer. When it came to discipline, he would not hesitate to pull out his belt, but seldom used it because he mostly disciplined with love. Carl had a passion for many things, kids, baseball, ole’ school music, dancing (Yes, he could two-step!) and most of all, for his family. There is not one family member that has not been impacted by his love, patience, jokes and kindness that he has shared with us. When the casinos came to town and everyone flocked there to spend their money, Carl went too! Not to spend money though but as the weekly driver for his sister, nieces and many friends that wanted to go. You could just call Carl, the family chauffeur because anyone needing a ride called him and usually, he came. It was Motown Mondays at the casino, they wanted to gamble and he wanted to dance! Sam Cooke, the ChiLites, the O’Jays, the Temptations, that was his kind of music. He just enjoyed people and enjoyed having fun. Always one to share his latest joke, Carl was also information central for the family. He always had the latest news and the latest gossip because so many people called him to check on him or just to say “Hi”. (But you had to listen to his gospel song on his answering machine first!) If you didn’t call him, he called you with, “I have a bit of bad/good news for you “Homey” OR “I got some news for you, hot off the press!” He addressed everyone as Doctor, “Homey” or “Hometown”. To know him, was to love him. Once you met Carl, you never forgot him. He may not have been very tall, but to his family he had giant size love for us all. He was a good man down to the core of his soul, and it would be hard to find a better person on this Earth. He was a simple man with a big smile, and it didn’t take much to make him happy. He loved people and he loved sharing the gospel with anyone willing to hear it. Our Homey, Carl Lewis Francis, leaves to mourn his passing, his daughter, Carla and son, Derek; one sister, Mary Lee White, and one sister-in-law, Mary Francis both of Kansas City, MO; grandchildren Jaunte, Tyrece, Asiahn, Derek Jr., Aidan, Asa & Ayah of Atlanta, GA; and a large host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Heaven is definitely receiving an angel! Graveside services Saturday, June 8, at 11:00am at XII Gates Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Visitation Friday, June 7, 5:00pm-7:00pm at Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapel. Arrangements entrusted to Lawrence A. Jones & Sons. Condolences may be shared on our website.

Mr. Carl L. Francis

December 31, 1945 - May 22, 2024