Not to be confused with the older, late Canadian painter.

Aka Dorothy Brenner Francis, Sue Alden, Ellen Goforth, Pat Louis, and Dorothy B. Francis. She also wrote murder mysteries.

https://www.andersonfhs.com/obituaries/Dorothy-Francis?obId=29093677
(with photo)

Dorothy Francis, 96, of Council Bluffs, IA, formerly of Marshalltown, IA, passed away peacefully Sunday, September 17, 2023, at The Heritage at Fox Run in Council Bluffs. Memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m., Thursday, September 28, 2023, at First Methodist Church in Marshalltown. Visitation will be held beginning 10:00 a.m. until the time of services at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the First Methodist Church or the Marshalltown Food Box. The inurnment will take place at Riverside Cemetery. The Memorial service will be live-streamed on the Anderson Funeral Homes Facebook page. Online condolences may be sent to www.andersonfhs.com.

Dorothy was born to her parents Cecil and Clayton Brenner on November 30, 1926, in Lawrence, KS, where her father was finishing law school. The family moved to Olathe, KS, where Dorothy graduated high school. She then attended the University of Kansas, graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree in trumpet. It was there that she met her future husband, Richard. They were united in marriage in 1950 and moved to Marshalltown in 1952. Dorothy taught private music lessons for many years, while honing her writing skills. After many published poems and short stories, her first Childrens’ book, “Adventure at Riverton Zoo” was published in 1966. She had over 80 books published, the last one being “Daquiri Dock Murder” published in 2012. Her last five books had a Key West, FL, background as she and Richard spent many winter months there.

Dorothy played trumpet for many years in the Marshalltown City Band. She was a member of the Twentieth Century Club, a 50-year member of PEO, chapter JU, a 65-year member of Tuesday Musical Club, and lifetime member of the Methodist Church.

Dorothy is survived by her two daughters; Pat Pocius of Colorado Springs, CO, Ann Francis of Omaha, NE, two grandsons; Dan (Amy) Pocius of Colorado Springs, CO, Andrew (Kristie) Tank of Ames, IA, and three great grandsons Roland Pocius, George, and Charlie Tank. She is preceded in death by her parents, Clayton and Cecil Brenner, and her husband, Richard Francis.

The family wishes to thank St. Croix Hospice and the wonderful care staff at the Heritage, especially her private nurse, Vanetta Reed for her constant care and concern.

______________________________________

Most of what I posted in 2016:

http://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/educational-magazines/francis-dorothy-1926

From "Contemporary Authors":

Career: "Band and vocal instructor in Orange, CA, 1948-50, Pleasant Hill, MO, 1950-51, Cache, OK, 1951-52, and Gilman, IA, 1961-62; former teacher of music at a middle school, Orange, CA; former teacher of piano and trumpet and director of a Methodist junior high school choir; Institute of Children's Literature, Redding Ridge, CT, correspondence teacher. Member of board of community chamber orchestra, Marshalltown, IA, 1967."

"...she has written numerous books, including those for children, young adults, and adult readers. Her children's books are chiefly adventure stories, while her books for young adults range from first-time romances to crime mysteries. In order to differentiate between the various genres, and to set apart her books for younger readers from those for an older audience, she has written under a number of pen names as well as her own name."

https://www.fantasticfiction.com/f/dorothy-francis/
(book covers)

https://www.kirkusreviews.com/author/dorothy-francis/
(five Kirkus reviews)

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/132232.Dorothy_Brenner_Francis
(some covers and reviews)

https://newimprovedgorman.blogspot.com/2010/03/mystery-author-dorothy-francis.html
(2010 interview)

http://authorexpressions.blogspot.com/2012/10/interview-with-mystery-writer-dorothy.html
(2012 interview)

https://www.voanews.com/a/2227292.html
(2013 interview, under 5 minutes - audio only)

WRITINGS:

Piggy Bank Minds and Other Object Lessons for Children, Abingdon (Nashville, TN), 1977.
The Boy with the Blue Ears and Forty-nine Other Object Lessons for Children, Abingdon (Nashville, TN), 1979.
Drift Bottles in History and Folklore (picture book), Ballyhoo Books (Wading River, NY), 1990.

NONFICTION

Shoplifting: The Crime Everybody Pays For, Elsevier/Nelson Books (New York, NY), 1979, 2nd edition, Lodestar (New York, NY), 1980, 3rd edition, 1982.
Vandalism: The Crime of Immaturity, Lodestar (New York, NY), 1983.
Suicide, Lodestar (New York, NY), 1989.
Metal Detecting for Treasure, Ballyhoo Books (Wading River, NY), 1992.
Toy Deer of the Florida Keys, Perfection Learning Corp. (Logan, IA), 2000.
Dolphins, Perfection Learning Corp. (Logan, IA), 2001.
Sharks, Perfection Learning Corp. (Logan, IA), 2001.
Sea Turtles, Perfection Learning Corp. (Logan, IA), 2001.
The American Alligator, Perfection Learning Corp. (Logan, IA), 2001.
Clara Barton: Founder of the American Red Cross, Millbrook Press (Brookfield, CT), 2002.

NOVELS

Adventure at Riverton Zoo, Abingdon (Nashville, TN), 1966.
Mystery of the Forgotten Map, Follett (New York, NY), 1968.

Laugh at the Evil Eye, Messner (New York, NY), 1970.
Another Kind of Beauty, Criterion (Torrance, CA), 1970.
Hawaiian Interlude, Avalon (Hewlett, NY), 1970, reprinted, Thorndike (Waterville, ME), 2004.
Studio Affair, Avalon (Hewlett, NY), 1972.
Nurse on Assignment, Avalon (Hewlett, NY), 1972, reprinted, Thorndike (Waterville, ME), 2005.
A Blue Ribbon for Marni, Avalon (Hewlett, NY), 1973, reprinted, Thorndike (Waterville, ME), 2001.
Nurse under Fire, Avalon (Hewlett, NY), 1973, reprinted, Thorndike (Waterville, ME), 2003.
Nurse in the Caribbean, Avalon (Hewlett, NY), 1973, reprinted, Thorndike (Waterville, ME), 2006.
Murder in Hawaii, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1973.
Nurse of the Keys, Avalon (Hewlett, NY), 1974.
Golden Girl, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1974.
Nurse of Spirit Lake, Avalon (Hewlett, NY), 1975, reprinted, Thorndike (Waterville, ME), 2007.
Keys to Love, Avalon (Hewlett, NY), 1975, reprinted, Thorndike (Waterville, ME), 2002.
The Flint Hills Foal, Abingdon (Nashville, TN), 1976.
Nurse at Playland Park, Avalon (Hewlett, NY), 1976, reprinted, Thorndike (Waterville, ME), 2005.
The Legacy of Merton Manor, Avalon (Hewlett, NY), 1976, reprinted, Thorndike (Waterville, ME), 2003.
Murder in the Balance, Avalon (Hewlett, NY), 1976.
(Under pseudonym Sue Alden) The Magnificent Challenge, Avalon (Hewlett, NY), 1976, reprinted, Thorndike (Waterville, ME), 2004.
(Under pseudonym Sue Alden) Nurse at St. John, Avalon (Hewlett, NY), 1977.
Two against the Arctic, Pyramid (St. Benwood, WV), 1977.
Run of the Sea Witch, Abingdon (Nashville, TN), 1978.

(Under pseudonym Ellen Goforth) Path of Desire, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1980.
New Boy in Town, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1981.
Special Girl, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1981.
(Under pseudonym Pat Louis) Treasure of the Heart, Harlequin (Tarrytown, NY), 1982.
A New Dawn, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1982.
Say Please, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1982.
Secret Place, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1982.
Captain Morgana Mason (children's book), Lodestar (New York, NY), 1982.
A Blink of the Mind, Dell (New York, NY), 1982.
The Ghost of Graydon Place, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1982.
Just Friends, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1983.
Promises and Turtle Shells, Abingdon (Nashville, TN), 1984.
Kiss Me Kit, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1984.
The Magic Circle, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1984.
The Warning, Scholastic (New York, NY), 1984.
Bid for Romance, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1985.
Follow Your Heart, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1986.
The Tomorrow Star (children's book), Weekly Reader Books (Chappaqua, NY), 1986.
Write On, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1986.
Stop Thief, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1986.
Computer Crime, Lodestar (New York, NY), 1987.
The Right Kind of Girl, Lodestar (New York, NY), 1987.
Vonnie and Monique, Silhouette (New York, NY), 1987.

Survival at Big Shark Key, Perfection Learning Corp. (Logan, IA), 2000.
Borderland Horse, Perfection Learning Corp. (Logan, IA), 2001.
Our Transportation Systems, Millbrook Press (Brookfield, CT), 2002.
Murder in Hawaii, Thorndike Press (Waterville, ME), 2002.
Conch Shell Murder, Five Star (Waterville, ME), 2003.
Courage on the Oregon Trail, Perfection Learning Corp. (Logan, IA), 2003.

"KEELY MORENO" MYSTERY SERIES

Pier Pressure, Five Star (Waterville, ME), 2005.
Cold-Case Killer, Five Star (Waterville, ME), 2007.

"CODY SMITH" MYSTERY SERIES

Bigfoot in New York City, Perfection Learning Corp. (Logan, IA), 2000.
The Case of the Vanishing Cat, Perfection Learning Corp. (Logan, IA), 2001.
Cody Smith and the Holiday Mysteries, Perfection Learning Corp. (Logan, IA), 2001.
The Jayhawk Horse Mystery, Perfection Learning Corp. (Logan, IA), 2001.
The Bad Luck Bike Ride across Iowa, Perfection Learning Corp. (Logan, IA), 2001.
The Case of the Missing Emeralds, Perfection Learning Corp. (Logan, IA), 2001.
The Case of the Disappearing Kidnapper, Perfection Learning Corp. (Logan, IA), 2001.
The Spy Catchers, Perfection Learning Corp. (Logan, IA), 2002.
Loess Hills Forever, Perfection Learning Corp. (Logan, IA), 2002.

"KEY WEST MYSTERY" SERIES