Mary S. "Sue" Francis

Mary S. “Sue” Francis, 77, of Chicora, passed away Sunday evening, December 21, 2025 at the home of her daughter Lisa, in Ft. Collins, Colorado.

Mary Suzanne was born in Bradys Bend, Armstrong Co. on February 26, 1948.  She was the daughter of the late James T. and Patricia Black Buzzard.

She was a long time member of Mater Dolorosa Roman Catholic Church in Chicora and graduated from East Brady High School.  In her early years, she worked for the glass plant in Parker and later was employed by JC Penney in Butler.  She was a former member of the Sons of Italy and the American Legion Post in Bradys Bend.  Sue enjoyed traveling to Florida, spending time with her children, grandchildren, and friends.  She was an avid Elvis Presley fan and some time ago fulfilled her dream of a trip to Graceland.

Sue was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence M. “Bud” Francis, whom she married on August 6, 1976.  Mr. Francis passed away on April 13, 2015.

Surviving are two daughters, Heather D. Denham and her husband, Shawn, of Chicora and Lisa Francis and her fiancé, Casey Blanchard, of Ft. Collins, CO; seven grandchildren, Alayna and Londyn Denham of Chicora, Ashley Francis of Clarion, Jimmy Francis, and Nick Gamble of Pittsburgh, and Ellie and Lilly Clark of Ft. Collins, CO; two great grandchildren, L.J. and Colson; a brother, Jim Buzzard and his wife, Karen, of East Brady; a sister, Jeanne Ackberry and her husband, Jay, of Stuart, FL; her former son-in-law, Edwin Clark, as well as a number of nieces, nephews, and cousins.  Also surviving are her late husband’s children, Cindy Ferris, Jeffrey “Larry” Francis and his wife, Tyra, and Mark Francis and his wife, Chantel, and his grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a brother, Joseph Buzzard and two sisters-in-law, Kate Wick and Marg Northime.

 A celebration of life service for Mary Sue Buzzard Francis will be held at the Brady's Bend American Legion Post, 975 Pa Route 68, East Brady from 1-4pm Saturday, February 21, 2026.  A funeral liturgy outside of mass will be officiated at 1pm by Rev. Matt McClaine, pastor of St. Clare Parish.  Interment will be in Hemphill Cemetery, Chicora.   Memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project at www.woundedwarrriorproject.org.  Condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mary S. "Sue" Francis, please visit our floral store.