Marlan L. Francis, DVM was born on April 10, 1939 at the Galloway Hospital in Anthony, Kansas to Anna Evelyn McClung and Harold Ray Francis.  Marlan was the third out of four children: siblings Joyce Waggoner (Tribune, Kansas), Darwin Francis (Attica, Kansas), and Gene Francis, (Goddard, Kansas).

Marlan attended Harper Elementary beginning in the eighth grade where he formed many lifelong friendships.  Marlan was a member of the Harper High School class of 1957.  Marlan was an agile athlete having excelled in football, basketball, and especially track.  He was known to be fast and was highly motivated to outrun certain football tackles.  Marlan was involved in 4H activities and enjoyed math and science.

Marlan married Karen Sue Ioerger on August 20, 1960 at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Danville, Kansas. They had one daughter, Andria Marcel Giesen.  Marlan and Sue spent most of their married lives living in Harper County.  Marlan was a member of the Kansas National Guard.  Marlan graduated from Kansas State University in 1963 with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree.  He was a member of the Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity at KSU.  Marlan practiced large and small animal health at the Attica Animal Clinic until 1978.  At that time, Marlan left private practice and began Industrial Veterinary Medicine with major feed companies, taking him to Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, and international business until his retirement in 2002.  He was a member of the Kansas Veterinary Medicine Association.  In his retirement, Marlan practiced small animal medicine from his home in Danville, Kansas until his death on March 25, 2020.

Marlan was preceded in death by his parents, Evelyn and Ray Francis and one son-in-law, Michael A. Elliott.

Marlan is survived by his wife, Karen Sue Francis of Danville; daughter Andi Giesen and Bill of Harper, Kansas; granddaughters: Alex Fender (Nick), Aspen Williams, and Auni Williams; and great grandchildren: Kamille and Cameron Cox, and Logan Fender.

Registration is 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with family present to receive friends from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Friday at the funeral home.

Graveside service is 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 28, 2020 at the Fairview Cemetery, just south of Danville, Kansas.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Harper County 4H or in Marlan's memory to the endowed scholarship of his veterinary mentor and friend, Dr. John Noordsy, DVM, former Kansas State Bovine Surgeon specialist.

Prairie Rose Funeral Home, 613 W 14th St ~ Harper, Kansas 67058 is assisting the family with arrangements and service.