Virginia Watkins Johansen Francis

Virginia Watkins Johansen Francis, 95, passed away Sunday, August 27, 2017, at the Mesilla Valley Hospice in Las Cruces. She was born October 12, 1921 in Clemson, SC, to David and Daisy Watkins, where she was raised with her brother David. She graduated from Agnes Scott College in Atlanta, GA in 1942, with a double major in English and economics. During World War II, she worked in Washington, DC for the War Food Administration of the Department of Agriculture. In 1946, she moved to Las Cruces to work as a publications editor for the US Extension Service. With one break to care for her children and to finish her Master's degree, she continued with the Extension Service until her retirement in 1982. She received several service awards from the NMSU College of Agriculture, and was active in the American Association of Agricultural College Editors, holding several national positions. In 1948, she married Sigurd Johansen, a sociology professor and later department head at NMSU, with whom she raised two children. After his death in 1973, she married David Francis, a professor and head of the poultry science department at NMSU, in 1977. When they retired from NMSU in 1982, they lived for two years in the Yemen Arab Republic, where Virginia worked as an English teacher. After their return, they lived in Las Cruces and worked on genealogy studies, played bridge, gardened, adored her Schnauzers, and enjoyed life. She attended St. James' Episcopal Church in Mesilla Park. After David's passing in 1998, Virginia moved in 1999 to Good Samaritan Retirement Village, where she made many new friends and enjoyed many long-term friendships. She stayed active in the care and education of her grandsons, swimming, listening to books on tape, and attending classes by the Academy of Learning. In early 2017, she moved to La Posada Assisted Living, where she received great and loving care. Virginia was preceded in death by her husbands, Sigurd A. Johansen and David W. Francis. She is survived by her two children, Sigurd Johansen (Cynthia) and Mary Pat Hurley; by her two stepsons Robert (Nancy Binneweg) and David Francis; by her grandsons, Delaplaine S. Johansen and Robert B. Francis; and by numerous nieces and nephews. Virginia loved her family above all else, and was open and thoughtful with everyone she met. She kept an open and inquiring mind along with her quirky sense of humor throughout her life. She greatly enjoyed the friendships she developed throughout her life, and we will all miss her very much! Her children will host a memorial service celebrating Virginia's life, at Good Samaritan Retirement Village, 3025 Buena Vida Circle, Las Cruces on September 13 at 3:00 P.M. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to Mesilla Valley Hospice, 299 Montana Avenue, Las Cruces, NM 88005, (575) 523-4700. PDF Printable Version