O'Connor, Francis Duane

Francis Duane O'Connor died unexpectedly on Wednesday, 
Aug. 18, 2010, standing on an airstrip, talking about 
airplanes and holding the hand of the woman he called his 
sweetheart for more than 63 years.  

Francis was born on Aug. 15, 1927, to Kenneth and Irma 
O'Connor in Julesburg, Colo. The eldest of four children, he 
helped on the farm from an early age. At 8, he drove a 
wagon and team of Belgian draft horses six miles to town to 
deliver loads of timber cut by his dad and uncle. He raised 
championship hogs to earn spending money and rode his 
horse, Monty, to school each day. The family lost their farm 
during the Depression and migrated to Oregon in search of 
work. He met his future wife harvesting hop fields.  

Like many young men of his era, Francis left high school in 
the spring of his senior year and joined the Navy to fight in 
WWII. His diploma was mailed after he completed military 
training. After his discharge, he returned to Oregon to marry 
his high school sweetheart. Francis proposed to Boneta when 
she was 16 but her mother wouldn't allow her to wear the 
engagement ring until she graduated from high school. They 
were married immediately after graduation on June 10, 1947.

In 1952, the couple, blessed with two daughters aged 1 and 
2, packed a half-ton Ford pickup hitched to a 23-foot travel 
trailer and made their way up the Alaska Highway. They 
spoke fondly of the adventure of moving to Alaska. They 
settled in Fairbanks, living for three years in the travel trailer 
with a wanigan addition. Banks refused to loan the young 
couple money to build a house, so they built out of pocket as 
money and time allowed.

Francis worked as a journeyman with Carpenters Local 1243 
and was a 

55-year member of that organization. He worked his way up 
with Pitcher Construction before moving to superintendent 
positions with GHEMM Co., building homes, bridges, banks, 
schools, pools, missile defense sites and ice arenas across 
Alaska. Boneta and the three girls, a third daughter having 
been born in 1955, traveled to remote job sites to live with 
Francis instead of remaining behind in Fairbanks. Boneta 
often worked as camp cook, keeping crews fed and happy so 
the family could be together. Francis was well respected by 
his construction peers and by the men who worked with him.

Francis was an intelligent man, a quiet leader and well read in 
many subjects. Typically succinct in his conversations, when 
he did speak his family felt it wise to listen. When his 
daughters were young he spent hours reading to them from 
storybooks and encyclopedias. His reading helped broaden 
his knowledge and kept him informed of changes in his state 
and the world around him.  

Francis enjoyed hunting and fishing, especially his yearly 
jaunts with Boneta and friends. He took pride in providing for 
his family and was especially fond of game meat and Chitina 
reds. He hunted with a cheese sandwich, apple and Hershey 
bar in his pocket. In his day, hunting meant a long hike in 
and a heavy pack back to camp unassisted by motorized 
vehicles.

He designed and built wooden boats and traveled Interior 
waterways with his friends and family. In 1961, he and his 
partners won the Yukon 800 at a time when the race was run 
with no stops, no fuel caches and no rests between Circle 
City and Fairbanks. Francis also developed a passion for 
airplanes and flying. Once the flying bug bit him, he was 
hooked. Francis flew all over Alaska and was a competent 
and cautious pilot. He was involved in the Civil Air Patrol, 
active in the Experimental Aircraft Association and trained to 
fly gliders. Stacks of aeronautical and flying magazines in his 
basement attest to his passion.  

Francis leaves behind his wife of 63 years, Boneta; his sister, 
Patsy Vincent; his daughters and sons-in-law, Diana and 
Bruce Carr, Sandra O'Connor and Susan and Richard Tilly. He 
was especially proud of his grandchildren; Francis Russell 
Carr and wife Jen, George Carr and wife Gail, Ken Carr and 
wife Tina, Natasha O'Connor, Nikolai O'Connor, Erin Tilly, and 
Adrienne Haines and husband Jared. He was blessed with one 
great-grandchild, Elida Carr.

Mrs. O'Connor welcomes visits from friends. Please call to 
arrange a time.

A Celebration of Life is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 18, at 4 
p.m., at the Tilly & Co. Ltd. aircraft hangar, 1745 Donald Ave. 
A meal will be served at 5. Please bring a story to share with 
friends and family. Casual dress is requested.

Published in Daily News-Miner on August 25, 2010