Community gathers to mourn Francis

The funeral for John Francis, a former Rio Rancho Police Officer who passed away July 15, was well attended with friends, family and fellow officers filling St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church July 27.

As was made clear by Father Scott Mansfield, Francis was well-known.

"John told me a long time ago that actually when he was a young man he wanted to become a Franciscan priest. So eventually he was pushed by the lord to law enforcement. People think of it as a career. No. it's a calling to be a person who is given that great task of protecting human life," he said.

He went on to say it is a calling from God.

"When John was in the hospital, this lady asked me where I was going. I said I am going to see a guy named John Francis. She said, 'Ooh. He gave me a ticket,'" Mansfield said.

The audience laughed melancholically.

John Francis Jr. spoke on behalf of his family about his dad.

"I'm not much of a public speaker, but it's a good thing my dad was. So let's see if it still runs in the genes," he said.

Francis Jr. went on to say his dad "pretty much did it all" by being a dad, brother, friend and officer. Francis was known for wearing many hats.

"He was always in the news as the PIO for Rio Rancho. So that's where the fame started," the younger Francis said.

However, what Francis was truly famous for was being kind.

"He was one of the few individuals you could truly count on. He was the man who would give you the shirt off his back if you didn't have one. He would give you $20 if you needed gas, if you were ever in a tight spot," he added.

Junior says he remembers his dad telling him and his sister he would "fight and not give up" when they found out about his pancreatic cancer.

"And that's what he did until the very end," he said.