Francis E. (Frank) Sandall was born on April 30, 1923, in Broadus, Montana and passed away peacefully on February 3, 2017 at his home in Carrollton, Texas.

Those who knew and loved Frank may recall that he had very distinctive hands - and in them was written the man he was and the life he lived; a life of work and a strong work ethic, finding beauty in the world around him and enjoyment every day, supporting the ones he loved, praising the One he served.

In his early teens Frank’s hands held ropes and reins … wrangling cattle and proudly earning his own bike and Model T Ford. In high school, his hands clutched the football tight when he was tackled in a winning game … and turned pages in the chorus book when he sang baritone in the choir or played the saxophone. By age twenty, his hands saluted naval officers as he served his country in World War II.

Upon returning from the Pacific, he joined hands in marriage with Ellyn, his high school sweetheart. Through his twenties, thirties, and into his forties, Frank’s hands wielded bricks and trowel … fluidly, gracefully, with a mechanical-like efficiency that is the hallmark of a mason’s skill. Laying brick was hard, gritty work … but with Lava soap, Fuller brushes and fastidious grooming, those hands were always clean with nails well-trimmed and neat. Weekdays Frank worked through those busy years to pay the rent … and weekends he worked to pay for private school tuition and nice clothes he loved to see his wife and daughters wear. Willingly and diligently he worked with his hands to provide for his family and come home holding out “presentos” large and small. A new TV… tickets to the Cinerama … ice cream bon-bons sprinkled with chocolate.

As the years passed, Frank’s work ethic never waned. Past his 90th birthday, he still clocked regular hours working at Walmart - and loved to use his employee discount to come home with “presentos” in his hands. Frank was a man who kept on “keeping on.” His hands that once stretched wide across the keyboard of the old upright piano, pounding out the rousing chords of “Margie,” later become constricted by a medical condition called Dupuytren’s (DUE’-PUH-TRUHNS) Contracture, that pulled his fingers toward his palms. But those hard-working hands would not be closed. They remained “open wide” with love and generosity, always working to give everything he could for his family … and making so many fun memories for them along the way! Dealing cards … playing cribbage and dominoes … holding the steering wheel of his yellow truck to take his 10 grandchildren on wild rides to their favorite park … and reaching out to marvel at the wonder of his 10 great-grandchildren. So many people will remember his hands extended to greet them at church … “fist bumping” them in signature Frank style … lifted in praise to the Lord he loved … turning the pages of the Bible to draw strength and comfort. It has been said that hands, as much as eyes, are the windows of the soul, and that they provide revealing insights into a person’s character. Frank’s hands revealed a life of working and caring … reaching out to give, to bless, to support. That’s who Frank was … and always will be in our hearts and memories.

Frank was preceded in death by his wife, Ellyn Mae Sandall, whom he always held in his heart as “altogether lovely.”

He is survived by their three daughters, Vanna Creed, Marla Sandall, and Laura Jackson (John); along with his grandchildren Jeffrey Jackson (Tammy), Zack Smith, Holly Kelley (Jerry), Will Smith (Joy), Heather Flanery (Zac), Christopher Smith (Alissa), Sheryl Norris (Rick), Jon Creed, Patrick Creed (Katy) and great-grandchildren Reid and Caroline Jackson, Ayden and Brenden Flanery, Ava and Ross Smith, Caiden and Kiyah Smith, Elizabeth and Scarlett Norris.

Frank’s family and friends will celebrate his life at a time of visitation Tuesday, February 7, 2017 from 6:00-8:00pm with Words of Remembrance spoken at 7:00pm at Allen Family Funeral Options. Frank will receive military honors and be laid to rest with his wife Ellyn on Wednesday, February 8, 2017 at 11:00 am at the Dallas Ft. Worth National Cemetery, Dallas, Texas.

Allen Family Funeral Options - Feb. 2017.