Obituary

Northland Age, Volume XVII, Issue 14, 18 November 1947, Page 2

Obituary

MRS. ALICE FRANCIS The number of settlers preserving a living link with the early pioneering days has been further reduced by the death of Mrs. Alice Francis, who passed away on Friday, 14th November, at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Walmsley, in her 90th year. The late Mrs. Francis was born in Kaeo, one of a family of twelve, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Bowyer and a niece of the first white female child to be born in New Zealand. It was there she lived for many years. She was twice married ; her first husband, Mr. Warwick, was lost overboard from a timber vessel trading between Whangaroa and Sydney, Australia. There were two children. In the year 1889 she married Mr. Joseph Francis, and in 1891 they came to live in Oruru, where she resided until her death. Mr. Francis passed away twenty-one years ago. The deceased lady was loved and highly respected by all who had the pleasure of knowing her. Her home was a familiar landmark to all travellers, and she was “grandma” to all. Although of Methodist denomination, until her health failed she was a regular attendant at all religious services in the district and an ardent church worker. She was also one of the first members of the Women’s Institute. The late Mrs. Francis was a devoted gardener ; nothing gave her more pleasure than the hours spent in her flower garden, which used to be an object lesson to the countryside. She is survived by two daughters and four sons, also two brothers (Mr. E. Bowyer of Pt. Chevalier, and Mr. H. Bowyer of Whangarei) and one sister (Mrs. A. Maddox of Ponsonby). The sons are : Arthur (of Dunlollie, South Island), Phil and Len (Peria) and Basil (of Wellsford) ; the daughters are : Mrs. Thomas of Onehunga and Mrs. Walmsley of Oruru. There are twenty grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. The funeral service was conducted by the Rev. Grounds in the Peria cemetery, and was attended by a wide circle of relations and friends. The floral tributes bore testimony to the esteem and affection with which the late Mrs. Francis was regarded. And so has passed another of our grand pioneers, whose work and example will long live among her numerous relatives and friends.