Grand Marshalls Reed and Leslie Francis
Leslie and Reed Francis have been named as the Grand Marshalls
of this year’s July 24th Celebration and Parade.
Leslie Loveridge was born November 23, 1921 at the edge of
Mapleton, overlooking Springville, to Joseph Leroy Loveridge and Mary Grace
Fullmer. Reed Ferguson Francis was born in Lake Shore, Utah to Samuel Evan
Francis and Barbara Ferguson, October 17, 1921.
Reed moved to Springville in his
senior year of high school. As he was
walking the halls of Springville High, he said, “Hello” to a beautiful blonde
and it changed his life forever.
Leslie and Reed’s first date was on his 17th
birthday, and they went roller skating.
That was the beginning of a multitude of fun and adventure that the two
shared. After each exciting evening,
they ended up at Leslie’s home to play games and raid the fridge.
After two years of a special romance, they were ready to get
married. Reed went to San Diego and
found a job in the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation. The company was building B-24’s for the war
in Germany. He saved for an engagement
ring and wrote a letter to Leslie’s parents, asking for her hand in marriage. Leslie and Reed were married in the Salt Lake
Temple on May 26, 1941. They returned to
San Diego to begin their married life together.
For four years, they enjoyed beautiful San Diego and Reed
was advanced to be a supervisor at the aircraft plant. Because he was 26 years old, he was drafted
into the service. Leslie and their son
Kent moved back to Utah, and Reed entered the Navy Air on January 9, 1945. He spent a year attending electronic
schools. Leslie and their now two sons,
Kent and Marvin, were able to spend the last several months of Reed’s training
in Corpus Christi, Texas with him. Reed
was discharged April 1946. Reed was able
to take advantage of the G.I. Bill and graduated from BYU as an Elementary
Teacher. He taught the 4th
grade in Springville for two years. This
was his most satisfying teaching experience.
However, it was impossible to live with a salary of $2,200 per year, so
they moved to Los Altos, California where the salary and benefits were much
better. While in California, Reed also
graduated from Stanford with a Masters’ Degree.
After 25 years of teaching, he
took an early retirement. Their little
family had grown considerably during their years in California. Reed and Leslie had an energetic family of
nine children that they moved back to Utah.
Retirement did not mean lazy days for the Francis
family. They tried their hands at
farming and worked for Howard Ruff taking care of his house, family, yard, and
farm. They also continued their years of
service in the LDS church by serving four missions. These missions took them to the Cook Islands
in the South Pacific; San Jose, California; Navoo, Illinois; and Lansing,
Michigan.
Leslie and Reed have enjoyed 72 years of romance in their
special, happy marriage. And they can
now include 84 descendants in their family.
Mapleton is proud to honor Leslie and Reed Francis for their legacy of
service and love.
