Mr Francis, a well-known local businessman and property owner, particularly in the Nowra CBD, passed away on December 31, 2021 aged 84.

And with it a man who had seen a great deal of Nowra's history.

While primarily known for the business Francis Auto Electrical, his father Cec had started Francis Garage on the corner of Berry and North streets in Nowra in the mid 1940s.

David later owned and operated the business with his late brother Geoff, establishing Shoalhaven Auto Port at the same location.

A mechanic by trade, back when mechanics learnt and specialised in everything about the vehicles, he later also trained as an auto electrician and expanded this part of the business.

Mr Francis also owned a number of local properties and businesses, and has been described by his family as simply "loving Nowra".

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His wife of 63 years Margaret, said he "simply loved Nowra".

"I'd hate to think how many apprentices he had go through the business over the years," she said.

"He was very passionate about Nowra," daughter Deb said.

"He just loved Nowra and everything about it.

"And was proud of Nowra and believed in giving everyone a fair go."

His son Gary, said his father had a "full life, that was chocker block full".

"He was a very clever man who could turn his hand to anything," he said.

"Dad also had a saying "why pay someone to do something when you could do it yourself," Deb said.

"And he lived his life like that - be it from working on cars, renovating houses, you name it he'd do it."

David was born on June 16, 1937 in Sydney, the son of Cecil Robert and Gladys Edith May nee Woods (of Terara/Bolong) Francis.

He was a brother for siblings Geoffrey and Beryl.

His parents operated a bike shop in Pymble, with the family living above.

At one stage Cec had also been a chauffeur for Walter Arnott, of Arnott's Biscuits fame, where he first came across the saying "And on his T is the best polly see" one of the company's early marketing campaigns.

Which simply translates to "honesty is the best policy".

Something that was passed down to David and his brother Geoff, and David's children, grandchildren and now great grandchildren continue to live by to this day.

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He attended Barker College in Hornsby and was somewhat of a "rascal", something that continued throughout his life.

It was there he met lifelong friends Peter Marsh and Ian Norman, of Harvey Norman fame.

The family moved to Nowra with Cec establishing Francis Garage, offering mechanical work, selling petrol and later being a car dealership for various brands..

David joined Geoff and his father at the business, David taking to the mechanical work, while Geoff was a master of the spare parts.

The business expanded, and a subsidiary business was established, Francis Auto Electrical in Kinghorne Street, Nowra, where Bendigo Bank is today located.

The Francis Garage was later demolished and the Shoalhaven Auto Port established on the same location in the mid to late 1960s and the auto electrical business brought back into the complex.

The official opening was "a grand affair" with a "who's who" of Nowra attending.

Over the years the family business had been a dealership for a number of "big name" car brands including Dodge, Austin and Standard.

It was there David's love for cars and in particular Austin Healeys was born, which later transpired into his restored 1957 Austin Healey BN100 and his much-loved BMW 2002 Tii.

But it was while completing his National Service at Holsworthy in Sydney, something he vehemently believed should still be undertaken today, that he attended a dance in aid of children with special needs that he met a recently arrived young British lass (Margaret).

They were married in July 1958 and built a home in Beinda Street, Bomaderry.

Son Gary arrived, followed two years later by his sister Deb.

Mrs Francis can recall various local operators, including local fish trucks, logging trucks, milk tankers and cattle trucks calling into the home at "all sorts of hours" to have work done or something electrical fixed so they could make their deadline and deliveries to Sydney.

David also did a lot of work at many of the local farms, building up a loyal clientele as he travelled the district working on various farm machinery.

It was after one such visit to a local farm when he returned home covered in all sorts of "cow products" that he decided he had to diversify his business, as he "didn't want to be covered in this" all the time.

Along with his brother Geoff, he attended a lot of trade shows and they saw the opportunity to get into air conditioning, becoming an agent for both Clarion Air Conditioning and Stereos.

They would also be a Honda lawn mower and generators dealership, the main Lucas supplier up and down the coast and eventually a Shell petrol outlet.

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At one stage he was even the Hertz car rental dealership.

They also undertook all the electrical work on local police vehicles.

The brothers eventually sold the business to Rodney and Trevor Plant in 1987.

Margaret can recall in the early days David rewiring and rebuilding all types of motors and they would undertake deliveries up and down the coast.

The family moved to their present home in Daley Crescent in North Nowra, where David's love of renovations began.

Always one to make the most of an opportunity he started purchasing property and business in Nowra, particularly in the CBD, building up an impressive portfolio.

"Dad invested in Nowra," Gary said.

"He was proud of Nowra."

Along with another well-known Nowra businessman Lance Sewell they developed the first subdivision in Berry.

Described as a "self built man" who "worked hard" and reaped the rewards Deb said her father was just as happy in his "daggy work clothes" and driving his "old ute".

"He particularly hated it if any of us bought a new car," she said..."waste of money he'd say". "Do you know how much that devalued the moment you drove it out the door?"

Unsurprisingly he "never bought a new car".

"Dad was a blue collar man - he worked hard and played hard and loved catching up with mates for a beer, be it at the then Empire Hotel, Bridge Hotel or more recently the North Nowra Tavern," she said.

"Or later on for coffee.

"From humble beginnings he certainly made something of himself."

"He achieved a lot in life and did a lot of things that a lot of people don't know about," Margaret said.

"He just got on with it and did it."

Travelling was also a passion, especially later in life and along with Margaret traversed across the world - the family believes the only continents they haven't visited were South America and Antarctica.

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He ticked a big item off his basket list in 2018 when they travelled to Africa for their 60th wedding anniversary where David was mesmerised and loved seeing the animals in the wild.

He was also very adamant about shopping local and supporting local business.

Something that was illustrated during the time of one of the fuel shortages where he made sure people who had supported his business received fuel before those "who had gone out of town to get fuel".

"He just loved Nowra and thought it was wonderful," Deb said.

"If people needed help or a kick start dad would help them.

"He often helped out his tenants in 'hard times' and that's why his shops remained full - and would tell us 'a happy tennant is better than no tennant at all'."

Over the years he was a keen supporter of a number of charities including the guide dogs, assistance dogs, and later in life Variety where he undertook a couple of Bashes with mates Kevin Williams, Tim Johnson, Col Shepherd and Ian Davison in an old ambulance.

He had a love of history and in particular Nowra's history and could tell you some fantastic stories of times gone by - remembering clearly when Nowra's only car park was actually a paddock with horses in it.

He would often visit local nursing homes and give history talks, of course including the time the circus came to town and the elephant decided to lie down on the Shoalhaven River bridge.

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Community minded he was involved in the local Chamber of Commerce, the Nowra Lions Club, was an A grade player at the Nowra Golf Club, even managing to secure two holes in ones just weeks apart.

"He has certainly left his mark," Gary said.

Another of his love was dogs, in particular Labradors, of which the family have had many over the years.

His latest, Duke arrived in 2010 and has been a great companion ever since - even relegating Margaret to the back seat in the car.

David is survived by his wife Margaret, children Gary and Deb, his four grandchildren Naomi, Elisha, Nicholas and Alex and great grandchildren Alaska, Aliya and Everest.

Mr Francis' funeral will be held at the All Saints Anglican Church in Nowra on Wednesday, January 12 from 1pm.

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