Minnie Belle Francis, 97, of Blowing Rock, passed away peacefully on 12 June at Sunnybrook Assisted Living Facility in Hendersonville, NC. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Sunday 16 June at the United Methodist Church at 107 W 2nd Street in West Jefferson, NC, by the Pastor, Dr. Peter Taylor. She will be interred next to her husband at Ashelawn Memorial Gardens at 3470 US Highway 221, Crumpler, NC 28617, following the memorial service. Mrs Francis was born 11 October 1915 in Ashe County to Henry M. and Laura E. Miller and spent her formative years at the home place at the confluence of Staggs Creek and the North Fork of New River near Warrensville. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Don L. Francis, and her brothers Joe C. Miller and John Henry Miller. She is survived by her three sons Joseph H. Francis (Sherry) of King George VA, Thomas D. Francis (Patricia) of Anthem AZ, and Dr. Robert D. Francis (Jennie) of Hendersonville NC; two grandchildren Joseph A. Francis (Maggie) of Santa Clara CA and Melissa D. Francis of Nashville TN; and many nieces and nephews. Mrs. Francis has related many stories about assisting her parents in operating the Ashe County Jail while her father held the office of High Sheriff of Ashe County. She also served for many years as manager of the Northwest Trading Post on the Blue Ridge Parkway at Glendale Springs, NC. For the past 30 years, until December 2012, she has been proprietor of the Crystal Wedding Chapel complex in Blowing Rock, NC and has fashioned beautiful and memorable wedding ceremonies for hundreds of happy couples. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to West Jefferson United Methodist Church, PO Box 826, West Jefferson, NC 28694.