Francis A. ‘Mule’ ‘Woodchopper’ DeMay
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| Francis A. 'Mule' 'Woodchopper' DeMay |
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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.
In his retirement, he owned and operated F & B Bait and Tackle in Prophetstown for 7 years. He was an avid fisherman, and loved camping, cutting and selling firewood, and being with friends. He was quick to tell a funny or B.S. story.
Survivors include his wife, Beverly; two sons, Ronald (Dee) DeMay of Prophetstown and Randall DeMay of Sterling; his brothers, George (Berneice) DeMay of Kewanee and Paul DeMay of Cambridge; his sisters, Dorothy Wolf of Annawan, Alice (Dave) Hansen of Prophetstown, Catherine (Ronald) Vincent of Kewanee, and Theresa (Mike) Echelberger of Springfield, Ohio; three grandchildren, Christina DeMay, Cory DeMay, and Curt DeMay, all of Prophetstown; and two great-grandchildren, Aiden Lanphere and Alaina Crump.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother, Raymond DeMay.
A gathering of friends and family will be from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday at McDonald Funeral Home, 46 Grove St., state Route 78 North in Prophetstown.
Memorials to Gaffey Home Care and Hospice would be appreciated.
