Rell Gardner Francis

Rell Gardner Francis was born in Lake Shore, UT on January 27, 1928 to Samuel Evan and Barbara Ferguson Francis. He married Janet Oaks July 18, 1958 in Salt Lake City. He completed a BA degree from Brigham Young University in 1954, a MA degree in 1963 and ongoing post graduate work in San Miguel d'Allende, Mexico, Ohio State University, the University of Utah and Chicago School of Design.



Rell's professional career began as an art and English teacher, which extended to instructing in photography in Paris as a teacher in the European Art Academy. He served as Director of the Springville Art Museum and Director of the City Spirit for the National Endowment for the Arts in Springville City. He was the proprietor of the antique photo reproduction shop in Provo (Heritage Prints) when he received and restored a large collection of glass plate negatives photographed by early Utah artist George Edward Anderson. He published a detailed, illustrated catalog of this collection. His publication: The Utah Photographs of George Edward Anderson prompted a burgeoning industry of old photo reproductions based on the carefully developed processing he employed.



Based on copious research on Cyrus E. Dallin, he wrote an earmark publication on Utah's forgotten sculptor, thus beginning an avalanche of renewed interest and scholarship on Dallin's life and work. Prompted by his detailed research of Cyrus Dallin, his watch cry became "Let justice be done" and his own artistic focus shifted to environmental and political activism.



Rell served as a trustee of the Springville Museum of Art (1958-1974), a trustee of the Springville Historical Society (1975-1999) and received numerous photography awards both in and outside of Utah.



He died at his residence December 9, 2008. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and a sister. He is survived by four sisters: Lila Madsen, Marian Tenney, Maurine Malmberg, Carol Loveless and four brothers: Reed, Rulon, Evan and Samuel. He is also survived by his wife and their three children: Rell Sean, Lewis McKay (Dana Costello), Dana Lepore (Mike) and four grandchildren.



Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 11 a.m. in the Springville Stake Center, 245 S 600 E, Springville, UT. Friends may call on Monday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wheeler Mortuary, 211 E 200 S, Springville or Tuesday one hour prior to the services at the church. Burial will be in the Provo City Cemetery.