Francis Myers

Francis Heath Myers of Petersburg, died on March 10, 2011 at his home surrounded by family and loved ones. He was born on September 11, 1921, and was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Carter Myers. He was preceded in death by his wife Harriet Cantrell Myers, his sister Mary Gee Myers, and his brothers Harrison Carter Myers, Jr. and Douglas Gee Myers. He graduated from Petersburg High School and attended the University of Virginia until joining the Army during World War II and serving in the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Force. During this time, he developed an appreciation for horses and shared this passion with his wife and daughters and grandchildren Martha, Hunt and Camden. After his military service, Mr. Myers devoted his professional life to working in the family automobile business Petersburg Motor Company until 1971, when he started and developed Petersburg Lincoln Mercury. He was recently honored by designation as a National Automobile Dealers Charitable Foundation Ambassador. He was a lifetime member of St. Paulâ??s Episcopal Church, where he served as a Sunday school teacher as well as Vestryman, Junior Warden, and Senior Warden. He was a member and past president of the Petersburg Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of the Country Club of Petersburg. He was an avid outdoorsman, who loved to hunt and fish. After his retirement, he fulfilled a lifetime dream and began his flying career and bought a Mooney airplane, which gave him many hours of pleasure. He also began playing tennis and shared this sport with his granddaughters Elizabeth and Anne Shaffer. He attended many of their high school matches and played with his own buddies each week. Having played football at the University of Virginia, he was a loyal UVA football fan. He enjoyed going to the season home games and tailgating with his son Heath and his family, three generations of Wahoos. He always approached life with a positive attitude and enjoyed the people life brought his way. He loved his family, his church, his country, and his friends with his whole heart. To have met Frank Myers was to instantly like him and to know him was to love him. He was the head of his family, loved by all, admired by all and will be missed by all more than words can say. His life and the lives of his family have been blessed by the ever present love, comfort, and companionship of his very special friend Julia Scott King. Her loving support enriched his life over the past sixteen years, and her presence added immeasurable joy for which his family will always be grateful. He is survived by his sister, Anne Myers Finney; his son Francis Heath Myers, Jr., and wife Mary Ann; and his daughters Josephine Myers Beard, Anne Carter Myers Jones and her husband George, and Mary Douglas Mutch. He is also survived by grandchildren Martha T. Jensen and her husband Monte, John Hunt Tosh and his wife Amanda, Elizabeth M. Lamb and her husband Charles, Anne Shaffer Myers, and Harriet Camden Jones, and great-grandchildren Luke Jensen, Madison Tosh, Virginia Lamb, and Charlie Lamb. The family is extremely grateful for the excellent care provided by Crater Community Hospice and Superior Care, LLC, during Mr. Myersâ?? illness. Funeral services will be conducted on March 14, 2011, at 11:00 AM at St. Paulâ??s Episcopal Church with the Rev. Rick Greenwood officiating with burial following at Blandford Cemetery. The family is being served by the Petersburg Chapel of J. T. Morriss & Son Funeral Home and Cremation Service. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions may be made to St. Paulâ??s Episcopal Church, PO Box 564, Petersburg, VA 23804; Crater Community Hospice, 3916 S. Crater Road, Petersburg, VA 23805; or Petersburg Library Foundation, PO Box 3435, Petersburg, VA 23805. Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com