Alyce Marie Francis

I had the pleasure of having Mrs Francis as my English teacher from 1954 to 1956. Of all my teachers including those in elementary school, high school, SAIT, University of Manitoba, and University of California [Berkeley] she had the most lasting impact on me. When I was in my last year of high school, I started to say something to her to the effect "that now I was educated" but she stopped me before I could continue and said "Larrie you haven't even begun". That has stayed with me ever since. Even though I am now approaching 80, I still try to continue learning. Her enthusiasm for Shakespeare, for the English language, for challenging young minds to challenge themselves made her the exceptional teacher she was. Larrie R. Taylor

Mrs. Francis was such a gracious and giving teacher. Whenever I saw her in later years, she loved to recollect seeing me as a young girl pushing my doll's baby carriage only to see it had kittens in it dressed in my dolls' clothes. As a teenager my dream was to be on the stage and as I got to Gr. 11, when Drama was required course, it was discontinued. I was so disenheartened, but Mrs. Francis encouraged me to keep pursuing my dreams. I loved her French class which led me to learning 6 other languages which I needed for an operatic career. Her support and encouragement has never left me and, hopefully, because of Mrs. Francis I have been able to inspire my students. May she rest in peace:)

I so loved Mrs. Francis. She remember me as a little girl pushing my doll's carriage with my babies all dressed up (they happened to be kittens), and whenever I saw her in later years she always reminisced about that which quite a chuckle. As I was going into High School the kids in Gr. 11 got to be in Drama and I could hardly wait to get there and, wouldn't you know it, that was the year that particular class got cancelled. Mrs. Francis went out of her way to console me, as she knew that was where my heart was. Her French classes gave me the courage to pursue my Opera career which included 6 other languages, but her confidence in me gave me the inspiration to continue. Mrs. Francis was the most loving and giving teacher I had the fortunate to have influenced me and I can never give her enough platitudes. What a wonderful and graceful lady:)

Warren and I both remember Mrs. Francis as an excellent teacher who taught us how to use effective writing skills that we have used throughout our careers. She will be lovingly remembered by us and all of her students.

I remember the same chalk board as Kara, for the lovely pictures she drew for biology classes, like the flower and all its parts. In her art classes she let us explore clay, and charcoal, pastels, and other media. She was thorough, had high expectations, was fair and kind. She leaves a legacy behind which I cherish deeply.

I met Alyce a couple of years after moving to Carstairs in 2005. Whenever I asked her how she was, her reply was always “Thankful for another day.” She was an inspiration to many people and will be truly missed.

Alyce has been such an important part of our lives. Even though we have moved away over 20 years ago, we continued to stop in whenever we were out in the area and Alyce was always a most welcoming hostess making sure we had a cup of tea and cookies before we headed out again. She wrote us many wonderful letters in her perfect handwriting and always wanted to know everything about our children, right up to our last visit on her 106th birthday. Our three children fondly recall the slipper tree at Christmas and special tea parties at her house, drinking from her china teacups even when they were little kids, and eating Viva Puffs. Carstairs will not be the same for us. She was a very special friend.

My dad was a teacher at the same time as Mrs Francis. I have so many memories of playing in her classroom as a young girl, writing on her chalkboard while waiting for my dad to be finished with his day and we could go home. Mrs Francis’ class was so much more fun than my dad’s!! Thank you for so many memories and for always being so happy to see me. You will be more missed than you can possibly know.