Payton Francis

Payton Francis,6, of Somerville passed away Saturday, May 9, 2020.

Visitation will be Sunday, May 17 from 9 am until 6 pm at Strickland Funeral Home in Somerville. A celebration of life will be held Sunday, May 24, 2 pm at the Crigler residence.

Payton Francis lived life out loud. He was the first kid to run and hug you on Monday morning, the first hand in the air, the first to volunteer, the first to predict, the first to take a guess and the first in line to go anywhere. His was the first, "I missed you.", the first, "Guess what I did!" coming back after a break.

Payton no fear of being wrong or failing. Whether it was writing his name or hula hooping, he just wanted to take a swing at it. "Watch me!" "Did you see that?" "Do you want to see it again?" He wanted to be the fastest, the strongest, the smartest. The best. He had an energy that couldn't be suppressed, and when he was happy, joy radiated from him.

He loved basketball. He'd practice and practice, and sometimes he'd hit nothing but net. If he didn't know you were watching and you cheered for him, "Great shot!" he would literally puff with pride. He'd smile so big you'd think he might turn inside out.

He was fiercely proud of and protective of his friends and his family. "Alexis is my cousin!" "This is my grandpa!"

Payton is survived by his parents, Donald Francis and Chelsea Hickman; grandparents, Joe Crigler and wife Stacy (Opa and Oma), Jimbo Hickman and wife Shelly (Papi and Mimi); great-grandpa, Jimmie Kowis; brother, Dalton Edward Francis; uncle, Justin Hickman, Nathan Crigler and wife Annie, Jabari Johnson; aunts, Amber Taylor and husband Karl, Stephanie Patrick and husband Dallas, Ariel Johnson; cousins, Barbie, Johnathan, Madaline, Rebekah, Joshua, Lexi “the twin”; great uncles, Mike Crigler and wife Edith, Tom Crigler, Arthur Grothe and wife Jennifer, Christopher Kowis and Russel Grothe.

Payton is preceded in death by his great-grandma, Carol Ann “Nonna” Kowis and uncle, Tiger Grothe.

Honorary pallbearers are SYS sports, Somerville Little League, Somerville ISD, the Grothe family and all of our rodeo family.

Memorials can be made to the Payton “Pup” Francis Memorial Fund at Citizen’s State Bank.