Thursday July 11, 2024
Shirley Francis who lives on a farm outside of Winona has been named to the 2024 Hall of Fame for her long time participation in township government.
“ In 1987 I was asked to fill a vacant treasurer position on our Warren Township Board and 37 years later I am still on the board and also treasurer for the 22nd year on the Winona County Association of Township Officers… I love my job and also helped organize and cater the first luncheon for our district meeting. I have been an election judge for 30 years and now schedule election judges to serve at election time” states Shirley,
Shirley is a graduate of Winona Senior High School and also worked as a telephone operator part-time before graduation and full-time after.
In 1965 she married Carl Rott. The couple bought the farm where Shirley still lives. The farm was home to a herd of Guernsey cows, beef cows, chickens, horses and turkeys.
Shirley also had a career of 24 years at Lewiston Villa Nursing Home. She began as a part-time dishwasher, but furthered her education and became a dietary manager at the facility. She held that position until the Lewiston Villa closed.
Carl and Shirley raised 3 children – Roger, Robin Lewis and Rhonda Hofer. Shirley enjoys time spent with three grandchildren and one great grandchildren. Her husband Carl died unexpectantly in 2001, and Shirley remarried again to Mike Francis in 2006. Shirley and Mike are now “retired” farmers who are very busy traveling and have visited all but six US states.