Billy Edwin Francis, age 48, was called to his Heavenly home on March 31, 2024. He passed away peacefully at home after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

He was born November 25,1975 to Charles and Linda Francis in Newark, Ohio and graduated from Licking Valley High School.
Billy loved sharing stories with everyone about his fondest childhood memories of visiting his grandfather (Billy Scoles) who taught him all he knew about running a farm and being self-sufficient. He took great pride in learning about farming, raising animals, fishing, hunting and all the other skills he possessed. As an adult, he kept a deep admiration for being raised a "country boy" and loved anything associated with being outdoors. He spent many of his evenings just sitting outside listening to country music, riding his motorcycle or showing off his cooking skills on the grill.

Billy was a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Newark Moose Lodge and was also anemployee of Armstrong Industries (Tectum) since 2003. He boasted about his perfect attendance record and was upset when it was ruined by Covid in 2021. In his eyes, not even a potentially deadly virus was an acceptable excuse to call off work. He was a man that looked forward every day to waking at the crack of dawn to put in a hard day at work and "bring home the bacon" (his words) at the end of the day.

In addition to his wife, Lynnette (Byrd) Francis, Billy is survived by his father and mother, sisters, Mary Cooper and Charlotte Francis; a son, Billy Francis Jr. (Michaela) and their daughter, Anastasia; a daughter Halee Boyer; stepdaughter, Briana Byrd and her son Zayvian and stepdaughter Kendra Gatlin; numerous nieces and nephews and cherished friends, Richard Alberry, John Luckeydoo, Mark Wagner and Kirk Wolfe.

Visitation will be held 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Friday, April 5, 2024 at Vensil & Chute Funeral Home, 1850 W. Main St. Newark, Ohio 43055.

Funeral services will be 3:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home with Rev. Dr. Michael Noble officiating.

Interment will be at Wilson Cemetery at a later date.