Christee Larson Francis

Born on May 14, 1959 in Salt Lake City, Christee Larson Francis (66) died unexpectedly on October 27, 2025 at her home in Murray. Our family will wonder why she decided to leave us earlier than we ever would have wanted.

The third child of Gordon Raymond Larson and Shirlee Zanetta Taylor, Christee grew up in Murray in the home her family continues to fill. Preceded in death by her sister Chelsa and her brother Rusty, Christee had meaningful interactions with her two living sisters, Cindee and Lisa, on the day she died. As a teenager the family moved to Hawaii and she loved her time there. She was a baton-twirling Majorette at Konawaena High and Intermediate School. Big sister Cindee cared for her as the two couch-surfed in Hawaii before Christee returned to Murray. She graduated from Murray High School in 1977.

After graduation she enlisted in the US Army Reserves with an occupational specialty as a Jeep mechanic. There she met the love of her life, Troy Francis. The two celebrated 44 years of marriage this past summer. They started their family quickly! Christopher and Saydee became a focus of their love and work. Christee embraced her role as a wife and mother proudly calling herself a “domestic goddess” and wearing out her life in the service of her family. She wasn’t just a regular mom, she was a “fun mom”! She added colorful experiences (and language) to the lives of her children and her children’s friends. She loved being a chauffeur for all the weekend activities. Lots of Christopher and Saydee’s friends considered her a second mom.

Christee experienced some listlessness after her children were grown. As a young woman she had waitressed at bars and restaurants. As a young mom she was a school lunch lady. She was incredibly talented and gifted as an artist - she was a floral designer. She loved to tole paint and her home and the homes of her loved ones proudly show her handiwork. An entire wing of the house was her “craft room” teeming with supplies. Once upon a time she was a great guitar player and even sang and performed in a bar. She played pool competitively in leagues and had her own cue. Later in life she fell into a rhythm helping wherever it was needed. She took great pride in completing her “chores” around the house and working in her yard. She was benevolently nosy - she wanted to know what was happening and was quick to help whoever was in need.

In 2012 she welcomed the first of what would be seven grandchildren and gave herself the title of “Grammy”. She doted on all these kids providing them with way too many sodas and treats. She loved cheering for them at their baseball, basketball, and football games and she gladly attended their dance and musical recitals and performances as long as she could pop out for a quick smoke between their numbers. She loved to babysit the kids, have them at her home while their parents traveled, and even loved being Grammy to her “granddog”, Crash.

Our family wants everyone to know that if you are feeling left behind or unimportant or unneeded that you matter more than you could ever know and the world is better because you are in it. Don’t let yourself become isolated in your own mind when you are surrounded by thousands of people who love you.

Preceded in death by her siblings Chelsa and Rusty, her mom Shirlee and dad Gordy, nephew Taylor; she is survived by her husband Troy, sisters Cindee (Faavae) Liulama and Lisa (James) Hooper, children Christopher (Makelle) and Saydee (Chris), grandchildren Dean, Ryan, Leela, Claire, Frank, Patrick, and Liv, and many loved nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was an incredible friend and leaves many lives forever touched.

A memorial service will be held on Sunday, November 2 at 10:00 AM at City View Mortuary and Cemetery at 1001 E 11th Ave Salt Lake City Utah.