PROPHETSTOWN – Francis A. “Mule” or “Woodchopper” DeMay, 74, of Prophetstown, died Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2012, at his home, surrounded by his family at his bedside.

He was born Oct. 7, 1938, in Annawan, the son of Peter Sabastian and Louise Elizabeth (Specht) DeMay. He was a 1956 graduate of Annawan High School. He married Beverly Ann Evans on Feb. 13, 1960, at St. Malachy Catholic Church in Geneseo.

Throughout his career, he worked at John Deere, East Moline, for 13 years; worked for West Bend Co. for 6 years selling cookware; had worked for his brother-in-law, Dave Hansen, at his gas station for 2 years; had worked at Micro Gear in Prophetstown for 2 years; and then worked at Northwestern Steel and Wire Co. in Sterling for 26 years. He helped many farmers in Fort Dodge, Iowa, and Gordon Francis in Prophetstown throughout the years, retiring after suffering a heart attack.