Mark Francis was well loved and respected in the Rutherglen and Corowa communities for his community spirit and strong sense of family.
Rutherglen’s Mark Francis was laid to rest late last month at Carlyle lawn cemetery after he passed away suddenly at home on July 19, just days after his 69th birthday.
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Mark led a storied life of travel, challenge and business, and was a well respected and loved member of the Rutherglen and Corowa communities.
From the mountain tops of Mt Kilimanjaro in Africa to Mt Cook in New Zealand and Mt Everest Base Camp in Nepal, Mark challenged himself always and often fared better than his younger counterparts.
He competed in the City to Surf challenge in Sydney, hiked and rock climbed in the Blue Mountains and indulged in the best prawns, oysters or lobster he could find at the Sydney Fish Market.
Having completed an accounting degree at Caulfield Institute of Technology, Mark travelled the world for work, holding senior financial leadership roles in India, Japan, China, Singapore, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, South Korea and the Philippines over a 35-year career with German pharmaceutical company Hoechst.
In 2009 he returned to Rutherglen where he helped his father ‘Pod’ run the family business, Francis Transport in Corowa.
After their father retired, Mark and his brother Raymond carried the business until last year when they closed the doors after 115 years of operation.
Mark (second from right) with his mother and siblings in his younger days.
Mark loved living in Rutherglen, and sister Jane said despite his gruff exterior, he was kind, generous, and cared deeply for those around him.
“Mark’s family was always incredibly important to him,” Jane said.
“He was looking forward to so much; I hope he has now reached his highest mountain top, that he has befriended St Peter, and that he will be with us in spirit for Friday night drinks forevermore.”
Mark is survived by his mother Lesley, brothers Raymond and Andrew, sister Jane, and in-laws Joel and Emily.
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