Francis, Cornelia, 1909-2005

Cornelia Hawkins Klittke was born to Herman and Cora Klittke on 18 Jan. 1909 in Williams Bridge, N.Y. When she was ten months old, her family moved to Saskatchewan. At age thirteen her parents decided that Cornelia should pursue a formal education. She entered eighth grade in public school, graduating from Jamaica High School in Jan. 1928. She worked briefly for McGraw Hill Publishing House in New York City before enrolling at the University of Montana. She pursued degrees in journalism and creative writing, graduating in June 1932. That same year, Cornelia married Hiram Francis. In 1959, Cornelia Francis accepted a teaching position at Arlee High School, where she taught English, journalism, and drama for thirteen years. In 1966 she was named the Montana Journalism Teacher of the Year. She was a feature writer for the Missoulian and Lake County Leader. After the death of her husband in 1966, Cornelia Francis spent the next thirty-nine years managing the ranch. Cornelia Hawkins Klittke Francis died at the family ranch in the Jocko Valley on 30 Apr. 2005.