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Jerry Russell Francis, 66, of Arkadelphia, died Monday, July 21, 2008, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hot Springs.

He was born Sept. 11, 1941, to Guy and Iva Jo Corn Francis in the Red Hill Community. He was a lifelong Clark County resident and a member of the Park Hill Baptist Church, where he was a deacon and taught Sunday School.

He was a graduate of Arkadelphia High School, attended Henderson State University, and graduated from Louisiana State University School of Banking. He began his career at Citizens National Bank in 1962, eventually advancing to executive vice president. He left banking to join his family in the farming business. The Francis family was named Clark County Farm Family of the Year in 1981. For the past 12 years, he has enjoyed traveling with friends and family of Francis Custom Tours.

Over the years, he was very involved in the community, including serving as Lions Club president, on the Clark County Hospital Board, the Clark County Fair Board, the USDA Farm Service Board, Citizens Bank board of directors, and the Riceland Producers Co-op Board.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Francis; two daughters, Susan Brackett of Arkadelphia, and Sharon Plyler and her husband, Michael, of Hot Springs; three grandchildren, Rachel Austin and her husband, Josh, of Conway, and Lawson and Cole Plyler of Hot Springs; one sister, Sandra Spurlin and her husband, Raymond, of Midway; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral will be at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 24, at Park Hill Baptist Church in Arkadelphia with the Rev. Blake McKinney and the Rev. Erby Burgess officiating. Burial will be in Unity Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home in Arkadelphia.

Memorials may be made to the Park Hill Baptist Church Building Fund, Ouachita Baptist University School of Business, or the American Lung Association of Arkansas (Box 34043 Little Rock, AR 72203).

Sign on line guest book at www.ruggleswilcox.com