Francis Oscar Ferrians

Francis Oscar Ferrians, 88, Moses Lake resident, passed away Friday, May 19, 2006 at LakeRidge Special Care Center. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, May 23, 2006 at Kayser's Chapel of Memories with Pastor Roger Kemp officiating. Interment will follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Touchet Cemetery in Touchet, Wash. Arrangements are in care of Kayser's Chapel and Crematory, Moses Lake.

Francis was born Jan. 12, 1918 in Walla Walla, son of the late Oscar John and Mary Lucretia Ferrians. He attended elementary school in Touchet and graduated from Yakima High School. He also attended Central Washington College where he played basketball and also boxed professionally. Francis competed, coached or managed basketball and baseball until he was 45.

He married Alvilda Garvik Nov. 23, 1940 in Tacoma, where they resided for several years. During World War II he worked at the Todd Shipyards in Tacoma as a supervisor of welders. After the war he purchased and operated a service station in Buckley. Later he purchased an apple orchard near Carlton, which he operated for many years. During this same time he worked at Wagner-Biles-Coleman Lumber company for 35 years before retiring, and also owned and operated the Methow Valley Lanes where he perfected his bowling skills.

Francis was an avid sportsman and athlete enjoying hunting, fishing, boxing, basketball, baseball and bowling. He loved his family, especially his daughters. He was a past president and member of the Methow Valley Eagles and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Coulee City.

Francis is survived by a significant other, Elinor "Babe" Adams, Coulee City; three daughters and sons-in-law, Virginia and Keith Fitzjarrald, Omak, Joyce Ferrians-Adams and David Adams, Coulee City, and Marilynn and Michael Taylor, Omak; nine grandchildren and their spouses: Shelly and Chuck Keitzman, Omak, Heidi and Bruce Fitzjarrald-Smith, Omak, Shad and Lulu Forsythe, Los Angeles, Calif., Jamie Forsythe, Winthrop, Mary and Courtney Conklin, Moses Lake, Ben and Jenny Adams, Coulee City, Kelli Francis Taylor, Omak, Graig Taylor, Cheney, and Amanda and Jonathan Coats, Kennewick; six great-grandchildren: Kaitlin, Jessica, Morgan, Chelsea, Elizabeth and Mary Lucretia; numerous nieces and nephews; one brother, Oscar John Ferrians, Jr., Anchorage, Alaska.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Alvilda, daughter Mary Margaret Forsythe, grandson David Lawrence Forsythe, Jr., sisters Margaret L. Hillyer and Evelyn V. Allen, and brother Ronald A. Ferrians.