Obituary of Francis M. McGuire

Francis Marion McGuire, age 97, of Boone, died Tuesday morning, April 7, 2011 at Glenbridge Health and Rehabilitation. Born August 5, 1913 in Watauga County, he was a son of James Monroe and Martha Rominger McGuire. Mr. McGuire was a member of Westside Baptist Church. He owned and operated a sawmill business. Surviving are three sons, Robert 'Lynn' McGuire and special friend, Janta Hardin, of Boone, Ben McGuire and wife, Janice, of Trade, Tenn. and Dennard McGuire and wife, Patsy, of Boone; two daughters, Emily Swift and husband, Bert, of Boone and Velma Harmon and husband, Ray, of Sugar Grove; two brothers, Talmage McGuire and wife, Bernie, of Sugar Grove and Jack McGuire and wife, Ellen, of Vilas; and one sister, Esther Eckenrod of Lenoir. Twenty-six grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren and fifteen great-great grandchildren also survive. He was preceded in death by his wife of 78 years, Della Isaacs McGuire, granddaughter, Charity Presnell, three brothers, Odell, Bill and Ernest McGuire and one sister, Edna Henson. Funeral services for Francis Marion McGuire will be conducted Thursday evening, April 7, 2011 at 8 o'clock at the Austin & Barnes Funeral Chapel, officiated by Pastor David Ward. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6:30 until 8 o'clock, prior to services, at Austin & Barnes. Graveside services will be Friday morning at 11 o'clock at the Baird's Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery. The family respectfully requests no food and suggests memorials the Baird's Creek Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund, in care of Mary Miller, 314 Meadowview Dr., Apt. 207, Boone, NC 28607. Online condolences for the McGuire family may be sent to the website austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the McGuire family.