On June 11, 2020, Francis Lloyd Taylor, age 83 of Broadus, passed away of complications from a stroke, surrounded by his close family.
Francis was born on October 13, 1936 to Lloyd and Evelyn Taylor in Belle Fourche, South Dakota. He was the oldest of six children. Out of necessity, he learned to work hard from a young age while growing up on Ranch Creek, just south of Broadus, MT. Francis graduated from Powder River County High School in 1956. He married Thelma Burley on June 29, 1957, and together they raised four children in Broadus.
For over 65 years Francis drove truck. During his lifetime he hauled livestock, produce, lumber, among many other things. Francis enjoyed his many round trips to Alaska loaded with hunting horses. He and Thelma once hauled a load of registered cattle from coast to coast, and together they saw both the Pacific and Atlantic oceans on the same trip. This trip, along with his Alaska hauls were his idea of a vacation, illustrating what a truly hard worker Francis was; work with a side of beautiful scenery was considered vacation to him. After being quizzed by a pair of curious grandsons, Francis named several trucks that he’d put a million miles on during his life. To put that number into perspective, his grandsons calculated that a million miles is roughly 40 times around the earth or 2 trips to the moon and back.
Along with long haul trucking, Francis was a partner in a cement business, and ranched in the Belle Creek area up until the time of his death.
Francis will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and friend.
Francis was is preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Evelyn Taylor and his brother David. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Thelma; his son, James Taylor (Jacque), and daughters, Kim Carlos-Flagen, Dixie Rogers (John), and Pam Fletcher (Clark); his siblings: Ralph Taylor (Peggy), Ron Taylor (Velma), Edna Mouat (Bob) and Larry Taylor (Kim). He also left behind 11 grandchildren, 8 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandson.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, June 18, 2020 at Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home in Broadus from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. A funeral service will be held on Friday, June 19th , 2020 at 11:00 at Faith Bible Church in Broadus. Interment will follow in the family plot at the Valley View Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting: www.stevensonandsons.com.
Should friends desire, memorials may be made to St. Jude’s.
http://faithbiblechurch.info/live-streaming.html
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday June 18, 2020
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
Broadus, Montana 59317
Service Schedule
Visitation
1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday June 18, 2020
Stevenson & Sons Funeral Home
Broadus, Montana 59317
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Diana Edwards says
Dearest Thelma and family, our deepest sympathy and prayers for all of you. Francis will be deeply missed……Francis and Diana Edwards
Tom and Judy Collins says
Thelma and family,
We were so sorry to hear about Francis. May he rest in peace.
Bub and Carlene Gaskill says
Condolences to the Taylor family.PoP
Bub and Carlene Gaskill says
Apologies for the PoP didn’t type it, appeared when I hit post.
Tammy Mallett Pecha says
So sorry for your loss.We enjoyed him so much when he hauled Hay or cattle for us.
Andrea and Vern Rice says
Thelma and family, we are so very sorry for your loss. Our deepest symphony go out to all of Francis’s family
Betty Vail says
Thelma, Kim, Dixie, Jim and Pam so Rory to read this. Y thought and prayers are with you.
Karen k says
I am so sorry for your loss. My prayers are with all of the family
Stanley and Bonnie, Ryan and Brad, says
So very, very sorry for your loss.. A wonderful neighbor and friend. God Bless him.
Carol Schneidt says
Thelma and family, My thoughts and prayers are with you! Francis will be greatly missed!
Steven L Vail says
Our prayers are with you! Steve and Tracy
Jim and Annalise Willson says
So sorry for the loss of Francis. When i drove for Ray Jerrel Francis helped me a lot, we ran many miles together over the years. He was a great friend. Thanks for the memories.
Linda Losinski says
Thelma,
We are sorry for your loss. God Bless
Kim & Jeff Hostetter says
Dear Thelma, Kim, Dixie, Jimmy, Pam & families. So very sorry for the loss of Francis. Praying for comfort for all of you.
Randy and Aletta Shannon says
Sorry to hear about Francis, always liked him to haul for us so easy on cattle. Francis and Thelma took care of me when I was little. They were and are still called Aunt and Uncle here.
Bill and Ranae Lancaster says
Our thoughts are with you during this difficult time.
Robbin Stoddard says
Dearest Thelma, Kim, Jimmy, Dixie, Pam, and families,
So saddened and sorry for your loss. My thoughts are with you, and my prayers lift you up.
Wayne & Anita Wetherelt says
Our prayers & thoughts.
Mary Schaefer says
Thelma and Family, sorry for your loss. I got to know Francis a little bit when I worked for Charles Moore in the office. He was a great guy and truck driver. Please know you are all in my thoughts and prayers!!
Ginger Huckins says
Thelma, I’m sorry to hear about Francis, Broadus is losing too many good men. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Larry E. Clements says
Thelma and family.
Sad news to hear of Francis passing. He was great man and friend and neighbor. He will truly be missed.
My condolences to all the family.
Nancy Stoddard says
Francis was a good man, husband and father. Bless all the family. Francis will be missed.
Ginger says
May peace and comfort come quickly to you and your family, Thelma. Francis was a great man and showed us all a thing or two on how to do a day’s work. He will be missed by all.
Marilyn Mader says
So sorry to hear of your loss. Will keep all of you in prayer as go through this time of mourning and change. May God wrap his arms of comfort around you and give you a peace, that only he can.
Dee Dee Chiesa says
So sad to hear of your loss. Sending hugs to all the family.
Skin and Betty Collins says
Thelma and family so sorry to hear about Francis’s passing. He was a great person to all who knew him. He will be truly missed. Prayers and hugs sent to the whole family.
Janie Calvert says
Dave and I are heart ❤ broken 💔 we are praying for comfort and healing he was a wonderful man there will never be another like him
Ken and Peggy Kolka says
We are so very sorry. Frances was a kind man and respected by everyone. Thinking of you all
Pam and Tom Andrews says
Thelma and Family so sad to hear about Francis’s passing. The road between Biddle and Broadus will not be the same. I will miss meeting him on the road every day with a smile and a wave. God bless you and comfort you. Prayers and hugs. Heaven received a great man.
Cindy Cathey Rock says
Sending deepest condolences in the loss of Francis. May his family be surrounded by the love of their neighbors and friends. May the happy memories hold them up.
Cindy Cathey Rock says
Sending deepest condolences in the loss of Francis. May the family be surrounded by the love of their neighbors and friends. May happy memories hold them up.
Cindy Cathey Rock says
Sending deepest condolences to Thelma and family in the loss of Francis. May his family be surrounded by the love of their neighbors and friends and may happy memories hold them up.
Curt McCamish says
Francis was as nice a man as you will ever meet and was a great neighbor. Our thought and prayers are with Thelma and the family during this time of grief.
Shawn and Wendy Richards says
So sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers are with you all.
steve graff says
thelma and family,
i thought a lot of francis. always greeted me with a smile and a hand shake. hauled some cows for me. the community has lost a good one. blessings to you, thelma, and your family.
Tim & Betty Vernon says
Dear Thelma,
Thoughts & Prayers for you & your family at this time of loss.
Tim & Betty Vernon
James Zabel says
Aunt Thelma and Uncle Francis have always been like second parents to my mom Linda; and have always been so welcoming to our larger family. As too have our larger Broadus MT family! 2019 and 2020 has been a very hard year on all of them. I just wanted to leave a little note for Thelma and all of you to let you know we’ve been praying; and we are sending our love. We are trying to make sure one of us is there.
James and Natasha Zabel
Esther Nelson says
Ern,Esther ,cheryl and Terry have you all in our prayers and sympathy . May God be your comfort in this loss
Of Francis. He ennoyed life .
Ed and Bev Schaffer says
Our deepest sympathy to the Taylor families. Francis was so well thought of in the community and such a good man. He will be missed!
Michelle and Rob Meyer says
Rest In Peace Uncle Francis. We are sending lots of love to all of our Montana family. We are sorry we could not be there to pay respects and see the family, but know we are thinking of you.
Bernice Rolfson says
Thelma and family I was so saddened to hear you lost your soul mate of so many years. Francis was a good husband and father. He will be missed. My prayers are with all of you God will help you heal. Bernice Rolfson
Bill and Alice Burley says
Alice and I send prayers and condolences to Thelma and the whole family during this difficult time. Love to you all!
Lester, Dawn and kids says
So very very sorry for the loss of Francis!! He was such a wonderful man!! Prayers for you all.
Clinton Peterson says
We love you Grandpa Francis. You were a great man that will be missed dearly 🙁
JOE Whitney says
445 Hwy 340
JOE Whitney says
A wonderful friend, so many memories of trucking with Francis thru these last 50 plus years, never knew where you might run into him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Gerald Cathey says
Thelma and Family-
So sorry for your loss. I first knew Francis when I and brother Dennis were boys tying and tromping wool for him, my Dad, Don G. and others during shearing seasons in Powder River and Carter counties. I remember him as a kind and congenial man that demonstrated and encouraged a great work ethic, always with wry humor. I idolized him for those reasons and mourn for his loss. Again, deepest condolences to you and the family Thelma.
Gerald Cathey
Terri L. Coldwell says
Thelma and family. We are so sorry to hear about Francis. He was such a good person. I enjoyed working for him doing his truck licensing and fuel reports. When he would call about something it always ended up on how everyone was doing and how the ranching business was going. He will be missed very much. Our hearts go out to you all.
Lori & Jose Oncina says
Dear Thelma and family –
What a blessing it was to have spent time together last summer and in October. We will always cherish those visits with Francis. His work ethic, his devotion to his family, and his quiet kindness are rare qualities these days. We deeply regret living so far away and not being there to help out and to attend the service. We are so very very sorry for your loss.
Bonnie Sprague says
Thelma and family, I am so sorry for your loss. Prayers for comfort! Bonnie Bogner Sprague
Steve and Joy Pehringer says
Thoughts and prayers to the Taylor family.
Bill and Dina Gay says
We send our deepest condolences for your loss. Francis will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Nancy Klein Hoffer says
Dear Thelma and family: God Bless you all. You and Francis are in many of my wonderful memories of Broadus. I remember you as such a kind, wonderful, beutiful couple. And seeing you in the last few years reinforced that. You are both such special people.
Veda says
Taylor Family, I like my brothers was also around at the same time, and my memories are the same as Gerald described. Years ago when I was waiting tables at the truck stop, he, Keith and the rest of the bunch would all come in for coffee, and Keith being the way Keith was, on day Francies offer me $ 5.00 to throw a pitcher of water on Keith. Francis had that develis look and smile his face, but I had to turn down the $5.00 and the pitcher of water at Kieth. I have a lot of good memories of Francie, always a HI and a smile. RIP good friend. I will miss you.
Avary&Don says
Dear family Francis was a good man Broadus will miss him
Brenda Minow says
Dear Thelma and family,
We are so very sorry to hear about Francis, we have always enjoyed visiting with both of you. Ben has always admired Francis’s work ethics with his trucking business and the way he took care of his load of cattle.
Sorry to have missed the services as we are in Minnesota right now.
Ben and Brenda Minow
Georgia Ehlers says
Dear Dixie & John and family,
We are so sorry for your loss and really appreciate your sharing the wonderful procession that took place today and the heartfelt obituary. That was such a wonderful tribute which will be long remembered. We’re lifting all of you in prayer for the days ahead.
Georgia Ehlers & Robert Marshall
LYNN TAYLOR says
Dear Thelma ~
I first met you and Francis in the ’90s at one of the Taylor Family Reunions, which I attended with my husband, Rick. I loved our trips to Montana and Wyoming for these events. I am so very sorry for your loss. You and your family are in my prayers.
~ Lynn Taylor