Jim was born James Brent Francis on February 25th 1942 in Ogden Utah to John Robert "Jack" Francis and Delpha (Packer) Francis.
Jim and his brothers Jack and Dennis lived with their parents in Carlin Nevada. Sadly his parents lost their lives Dec 31, 1944 in a terrible train accident on their way to visit family in Utah for the holiday. He and his brothers were adopted by relatives Lyle Sylvester Burnett and Emma Marie (Packer) Burnett and raised in Portland, Oregon. He attended Arleta Grade School and Graduated Franklin High School class of 1960. After graduating Jim joined the Army National Guard and served with pride. He did his active Duty time at Fort Ord, California.
In June of 1961 he married his high school sweetheart Janice Degermark. They had two daughters, Holly Ann Francis Burnett and, Amy Sue Francis Burnett.
Jim always had a heart for adventure and in 1969 he struck out for the wilds of Alaska and found work providing security on the Alaska pipeline. Later that year his family joined him in Kenai, Alaska. Jim and his wife Jan bid on and won a contract to deliver a star route for the United States Post Office delivering mail. He also ran a security company and worked closely with the Kenai Police Department.
They later returned to Oregon. He enrolled in Truck Driving school and worked driving big rigs until his retirement in 2004.
His love of adventure took him many places across America and abroad with trips to Mexico, Hawaii, and Thailand. It was on one of his many trips to Thailand that he met and in November 1992 married his second wife Buakaew (Sukphan) Burnett.
February 23, 2004 they welcomed their son JohnRobert Jockgrits Francis Burnett in to this world.
Jim's love of motorcycles started early and was a constant joy to him through out his life. He raced motocross and took numerous bike trips across America with family and friends. In 2010 he and a group of friends dubbed "The Geriatric Road Riders" by his daughter Amy, took a trip across Alaska and, in 2011 they climbed the continental Divide. He owned many different motorcycles over the years. Among them were Yamaha dirt bikes, a Yamaha touring bike, a Ural with a side car, a Royal Enfield and his beloved Victory. In 1996 he combined his love of motorcycles and his love of country by joining the Patriot Guard Riders. His desire to honor This country's veterans and their families became his calling. He rode as many missions as he could and often took his young son JohnRobert along. He worked tirelessly to honor the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. Whether it was to welcome home a soldier from combat, lay a soldier to rest or welcome WII veterans from Victory Flights, he was there. He found a home with his brothers and sisters of the Patriot Guard and cherished their friendships.
Jim's lost his life June 22, 2012 doing what he loved most, riding his Victory on his way to honor the life of a WWII veteran.
He is survived by his older brother Dennis Burnett; his daughters Holly Haus and Amy Arasmith; his son JohnRobert; granddaughters Nicole Burnett and Audrey Arasmith; Grandson Jaccob Haus and, nephew Justin Burnett.
Jim spoke his mind, lived large and loved fully. He will be missed daily by his family and friends.
A party to celebrate Jim's life will be held Sunday, July 8th, at 2pm at the Milwaukie Elks Lodge 13121 SE McLoughlin Blvd, Milwaukie OR.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Patriot Guard Riders
Make checks payable to: Patriot Guard Riders Inc. C/O John Tatum 19220 E. Knightsbridge, OK 74055
Jim and his brothers Jack and Dennis lived with their parents in Carlin Nevada. Sadly his parents lost their lives Dec 31, 1944 in a terrible train accident on their way to visit family in Utah for the holiday. He and his brothers were adopted by relatives Lyle Sylvester Burnett and Emma Marie (Packer) Burnett and raised in Portland, Oregon. He attended Arleta Grade School and Graduated Franklin High School class of 1960. After graduating Jim joined the Army National Guard and served with pride. He did his active Duty time at Fort Ord, California.
In June of 1961 he married his high school sweetheart Janice Degermark. They had two daughters, Holly Ann Francis Burnett and, Amy Sue Francis Burnett.
Jim always had a heart for adventure and in 1969 he struck out for the wilds of Alaska and found work providing security on the Alaska pipeline. Later that year his family joined him in Kenai, Alaska. Jim and his wife Jan bid on and won a contract to deliver a star route for the United States Post Office delivering mail. He also ran a security company and worked closely with the Kenai Police Department.
They later returned to Oregon. He enrolled in Truck Driving school and worked driving big rigs until his retirement in 2004.
His love of adventure took him many places across America and abroad with trips to Mexico, Hawaii, and Thailand. It was on one of his many trips to Thailand that he met and in November 1992 married his second wife Buakaew (Sukphan) Burnett.
February 23, 2004 they welcomed their son JohnRobert Jockgrits Francis Burnett in to this world.
Jim's love of motorcycles started early and was a constant joy to him through out his life. He raced motocross and took numerous bike trips across America with family and friends. In 2010 he and a group of friends dubbed "The Geriatric Road Riders" by his daughter Amy, took a trip across Alaska and, in 2011 they climbed the continental Divide. He owned many different motorcycles over the years. Among them were Yamaha dirt bikes, a Yamaha touring bike, a Ural with a side car, a Royal Enfield and his beloved Victory. In 1996 he combined his love of motorcycles and his love of country by joining the Patriot Guard Riders. His desire to honor This country's veterans and their families became his calling. He rode as many missions as he could and often took his young son JohnRobert along. He worked tirelessly to honor the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. Whether it was to welcome home a soldier from combat, lay a soldier to rest or welcome WII veterans from Victory Flights, he was there. He found a home with his brothers and sisters of the Patriot Guard and cherished their friendships.
Jim's lost his life June 22, 2012 doing what he loved most, riding his Victory on his way to honor the life of a WWII veteran.
He is survived by his older brother Dennis Burnett; his daughters Holly Haus and Amy Arasmith; his son JohnRobert; granddaughters Nicole Burnett and Audrey Arasmith; Grandson Jaccob Haus and, nephew Justin Burnett.
Jim spoke his mind, lived large and loved fully. He will be missed daily by his family and friends.
A party to celebrate Jim's life will be held Sunday, July 8th, at 2pm at the Milwaukie Elks Lodge 13121 SE McLoughlin Blvd, Milwaukie OR.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Patriot Guard Riders
Make checks payable to: Patriot Guard Riders Inc. C/O John Tatum 19220 E. Knightsbridge, OK 74055
Jim was born James Brent Francis on February 25th 1942 in Ogden Utah to John Robert "Jack" Francis and Delpha (Packer) Francis.
Jim and his brothers Jack and Dennis lived with their parents in Carlin Nevada. Sadly his parents lost their lives Dec 31, 1944 in a terrible train accident on their way to visit family in Utah for the holiday. He and his brothers were adopted by relatives Lyle Sylvester Burnett and Emma Marie (Packer) Burnett and raised in Portland, Oregon. He attended Arleta Grade School and Graduated Franklin High School class of 1960. After graduating Jim joined the Army National Guard and served with pride. He did his active Duty time at Fort Ord, California.
In June of 1961 he married his high school sweetheart Janice Degermark. They had two daughters, Holly Ann Francis Burnett and, Amy Sue Francis Burnett.
Jim always had a heart for adventure and in 1969 he struck out for the wilds of Alaska and found work providing security on the Alaska pipeline. Later that year his family joined him in Kenai, Alaska. Jim and his wife Jan bid on and won a contract to deliver a star route for the United States Post Office delivering mail. He also ran a security company and worked closely with the Kenai Police Department.
They later returned to Oregon. He enrolled in Truck Driving school and worked driving big rigs until his retirement in 2004.
His love of adventure took him many places across America and abroad with trips to Mexico, Hawaii, and Thailand. It was on one of his many trips to Thailand that he met and in November 1992 married his second wife Buakaew (Sukphan) Burnett.
February 23, 2004 they welcomed their son JohnRobert Jockgrits Francis Burnett in to this world.
Jim's love of motorcycles started early and was a constant joy to him through out his life. He raced motocross and took numerous bike trips across America with family and friends. In 2010 he and a group of friends dubbed "The Geriatric Road Riders" by his daughter Amy, took a trip across Alaska and, in 2011 they climbed the continental Divide. He owned many different motorcycles over the years. Among them were Yamaha dirt bikes, a Yamaha touring bike, a Ural with a side car, a Royal Enfield and his beloved Victory. In 1996 he combined his love of motorcycles and his love of country by joining the Patriot Guard Riders. His desire to honor This country's veterans and their families became his calling. He rode as many missions as he could and often took his young son JohnRobert along. He worked tirelessly to honor the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. Whether it was to welcome home a soldier from combat, lay a soldier to rest or welcome WII veterans from Victory Flights, he was there. He found a home with his brothers and sisters of the Patriot Guard and cherished their friendships.
Jim's lost his life June 22, 2012 doing what he loved most, riding his Victory on his way to honor the life of a WWII veteran.
He is survived by his older brother Dennis Burnett; his daughters Holly Haus and Amy Arasmith; his son JohnRobert; granddaughters Nicole Burnett and Audrey Arasmith; Grandson Jaccob Haus and, nephew Justin Burnett.
Jim spoke his mind, lived large and loved fully. He will be missed daily by his family and friends.
A party to celebrate Jim's life will be held Sunday, July 8th, at 2pm at the Milwaukie Elks Lodge 13121 SE McLoughlin Blvd, Milwaukie OR.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Patriot Guard Riders
Make checks payable to: Patriot Guard Riders Inc. C/O John Tatum 19220 E. Knightsbridge, OK 74055
Jim and his brothers Jack and Dennis lived with their parents in Carlin Nevada. Sadly his parents lost their lives Dec 31, 1944 in a terrible train accident on their way to visit family in Utah for the holiday. He and his brothers were adopted by relatives Lyle Sylvester Burnett and Emma Marie (Packer) Burnett and raised in Portland, Oregon. He attended Arleta Grade School and Graduated Franklin High School class of 1960. After graduating Jim joined the Army National Guard and served with pride. He did his active Duty time at Fort Ord, California.
In June of 1961 he married his high school sweetheart Janice Degermark. They had two daughters, Holly Ann Francis Burnett and, Amy Sue Francis Burnett.
Jim always had a heart for adventure and in 1969 he struck out for the wilds of Alaska and found work providing security on the Alaska pipeline. Later that year his family joined him in Kenai, Alaska. Jim and his wife Jan bid on and won a contract to deliver a star route for the United States Post Office delivering mail. He also ran a security company and worked closely with the Kenai Police Department.
They later returned to Oregon. He enrolled in Truck Driving school and worked driving big rigs until his retirement in 2004.
His love of adventure took him many places across America and abroad with trips to Mexico, Hawaii, and Thailand. It was on one of his many trips to Thailand that he met and in November 1992 married his second wife Buakaew (Sukphan) Burnett.
February 23, 2004 they welcomed their son JohnRobert Jockgrits Francis Burnett in to this world.
Jim's love of motorcycles started early and was a constant joy to him through out his life. He raced motocross and took numerous bike trips across America with family and friends. In 2010 he and a group of friends dubbed "The Geriatric Road Riders" by his daughter Amy, took a trip across Alaska and, in 2011 they climbed the continental Divide. He owned many different motorcycles over the years. Among them were Yamaha dirt bikes, a Yamaha touring bike, a Ural with a side car, a Royal Enfield and his beloved Victory. In 1996 he combined his love of motorcycles and his love of country by joining the Patriot Guard Riders. His desire to honor This country's veterans and their families became his calling. He rode as many missions as he could and often took his young son JohnRobert along. He worked tirelessly to honor the men and women of the United States Armed Forces. Whether it was to welcome home a soldier from combat, lay a soldier to rest or welcome WII veterans from Victory Flights, he was there. He found a home with his brothers and sisters of the Patriot Guard and cherished their friendships.
Jim's lost his life June 22, 2012 doing what he loved most, riding his Victory on his way to honor the life of a WWII veteran.
He is survived by his older brother Dennis Burnett; his daughters Holly Haus and Amy Arasmith; his son JohnRobert; granddaughters Nicole Burnett and Audrey Arasmith; Grandson Jaccob Haus and, nephew Justin Burnett.
Jim spoke his mind, lived large and loved fully. He will be missed daily by his family and friends.
A party to celebrate Jim's life will be held Sunday, July 8th, at 2pm at the Milwaukie Elks Lodge 13121 SE McLoughlin Blvd, Milwaukie OR.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to The Patriot Guard Riders
Make checks payable to: Patriot Guard Riders Inc. C/O John Tatum 19220 E. Knightsbridge, OK 74055
