Ruby Alice Francis Hornbeck
Peacefully passed away from congestive heart failure on February 20, 2023 in Salt Lake City.
Known as Ruby to her family and Alice to her friends, she was born in Harlem, Montana on July 8, 1940 to Donald and Clara (Sausman) Francis.
Growing up in Montana, Alice lived at the Fort Belknap Indian reservation where her grandmother ran the general store, and at the Matador sheep ranch where both her parents worked. Alice loved Montana, especially the history, the landscape. and the Indigenous peoples; she had wonderful memories of growing up in “Big Sky Country”.
After graduating high school in Montana, Alice lived an adventurous life traveling to various states and Canada. Eventually she moved to Salt Lake City and earned a B.A. in English from the University of Utah while working and raising her first daughter, Claire, as a single mother. Alice met her husband, David Hornbeck, at the University of Utah’s Marriott Library where he worked. They raised their daughter, Cynthia, and were married 41 years.
Alice’s passion for genealogy led to a career in ancestral research. She generously helped friends search for ancestors and was very knowledgeable about English history. She loved music and sang in the All Saints Episcopal Church choir for years, and also taught Sunday School. Later on, she and David became greeters at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and volunteered at the food bank. Alice was an avid reader of the classics, especially Homer, and an avid gardener– blue delphiniums and iris were her favorite flowers. She enjoyed talking to and interacting with her many caring and supportive neighbors. She also loved her home in Salt Lake City, where she watched and listened to the many varieties of birds that would frequent her yard and bird bath; and where she harvested and shared the best apples in the neighborhood. Alice had a great fondness for dogs and James, their Sheltie, ruled their home. They enjoyed many walks in Sugarhouse Park.
Many thanks and gratitude to Alice's community of kind neighbors, long time friend Marguerite, the staff at The Ridge, AspenRidge West, and LifeCare, Elsy, and Alice's healthcare providers including PA Erin at the Sugarhouse Clinic for their care and support.
Alice is survived by her daughters Claire Francis (Clark); Cynthia Hornbeck (Ryan); grandsons Gavin and David; brother Michael; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceded in death by her husband David, parents, and brother James.
A memorial service will be held in Salt Lake City at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (261 900 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84102) on April 27, 2023 at 10 am.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to St. Paul's Food Bank, 261 South 900 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84102, www.stpauls-slc.org/pantry.
“Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory.”