Joseph Lee “Joe Lee” Francis

Wednesday, November 25, 2020

Joseph Lee “Joe Lee” Francis was born on Dec. 17, 1941, to Joseph Orville and Helen Fay (Alsbury) Francis in Osceola, Mo. He passed away on Oct. 10, 2020, in Las Vegas, Nev.

Joe Lee was raised in Osceola where he attended elementary and high school. He attended SMSU in Springfield, Mo., still playing his beloved sport, baseball. He later moved to Nevada, Mo., raising a family while being a businessman. He lived and breathed St. Louis Cardinals baseball and this love continued even after his moving to Las Vegas in 1999. He found his “paradise” in Las Vegas, especially enjoying giving Missouri friends and families the “insider tours” most visitors to the city never know.

Joe Lee was preceded in death by his parents and son-in-law, Mike Cavanah.

He is survived by his wife, Bella; children, Debbie (Francis) Ogle and husband, Mark, of Berryville, Ark., Mark Francis and wife, Lisa (Hambach), of Nevada, Mo., and Lisa (Francis) Ellerman and husband, David, of Blue Springs, Mo.; grandchildren Lara (Ogle) Leinen and husband, Andy, of San Diego, Calif., Aaron Ogle and fiancé, Peyton Mann, of Springfield, Mo., Duncan Ogle of Berryville, Ark., Matthew Francis and wife, Jenna (Gold) of Monett, Mo., Jordan Francis of Nevada, Mo., Alexander Francis of Nevada, Mo., Benjamin Francis of Kirkland, Wash., Ashli Ellerman of Blue Springs, Mo., and Bayli Ellerman of Columbia, Mo.

Papa Joe’s Philippine family: Prudencio Ugale “Dennis” Delos Santos III and wife, Kathleen (Pontioso) of Manila, Philippines; children, Kurt Marcus, Kyla Denice, Achilles Troy, and Daniele Alexander.