Francis A. Porter, 78

Francis A. Porter, 78, passed away in Sandpoint, Idaho, on Aug. 6, 2006.

Graveside funeral services will be conducted Thursday, Aug. 10, in Pinecrest Memorial Park at 11 a.m. The Rev. Dan Moore, Laclede Community Church, will officiate.

Friends may call Wednesday afternoon from noon-6 p.m., and Thursday morning until 10 a.m. at Coffelt's Funeral Chapel.

Francis was born in Guernsey, Wyo., on Oct. 8, 1927, the son of Francis and Marjory Porter.

The family moved to the Wrencoe area in 1936 and he attended Bonner County Schools. He became a welder in the Portland, Ore. shipyards prior to World War II. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving in the Pacific at the end of World War II.

Following the war he momved to Spokane to become a carpenter's apprentice, and worked as a carpenter.

He also farmed in the Wrencoe area and worked as a millwright/welder for the Pack River Lumber Company.

He later worked as a union millwright, out of Spokane, and followed heavy construction in the Northwest.

He married Hazel Watts on Dec. 15, 1967, in Spokane. He was a life member of the National Rifle Association, enjoying hunting and gunsmithing.

He is survived by 10 children; Maria Bledsoe of Moyie Springs, Danny Daniels of Clark Fork, Randy Daniels of Sandpoint, Kevin Daniels of Priest River, Norma Ray of Lewiston, Jim Radford of Rathdrum, Scarlett Enyeart of Lewiston, John Radford of Lewiston, Ben Radford of Coeur d'Alene and Bob Radford of Vancouver, Wash.; 30 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren; a brother, Bernard Porter, of Spokane and a sister, Betty Bos, of Spokane.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two wives, Hazel and Mildred Gastineau, two sons, Dennis Daniels and Doug Porter, and a great granddaughter, Darlene Daniels.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service.