Obituary: Dr. Francis E. Summers

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Dr. Francis E. Summers, Ph.D., 79, of Charleston, passed away Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011 at Gowin Parc, Mattoon.

The graveside funeral honoring his life will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 13, 2011 at Mt. Oval Cemetery, rural Norris City with Darin Hansen officiating. Military rites will be performed by Carmi V.F.W. and American Legion. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011 at the Harper-Swickard Funeral Home.

Francis was born Oct. 26, 1932, in Harrisburg, son of Martin A. and Grace M. (Kingston) Summers. He married Marcia Ann Hartley, June 26, 1951, at Cairo; she preceded him into Heaven, Jan. 8, 2000. He is survived by their daughters, Shelby Lynn DeCapite of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, Sara Beth Summers of Pendleton, S.C., Susan Frances Summers of Charleston and Sharla Ann Hansen of Neoga; one brother, Jerry Summers of Cape Coral, Fla.; as well as 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren also survive.

He was also preceded in death by one brother and two sisters.

Francis retired from Eastern Illinois University, where he had been a Psychology Professor, and later Director of Clinical Experiences. He had served in the Army and Air Force, and was a veteran of the Korean War. Francis attended Central Christian Church, where he was active in Prime Timers. He was also a member of the Illinois Association of Teacher Educators. Francis loved tinkering on cars, watching football, doing word searches, and loved his pets. Family was very important to him. Francis was a devoted, husband, father, and grandfather.

If you have memories of Francis, and are unable to attend visitation or his funeral, please feel free to jot the memory on a piece of paper, and drop them in the mail to Harper-Swickard Funeral Home, 720 Monroe, Charleston, Ill. 61920, so the family can add them to a memory book of Francis.