Francis James “Fran” Daley III, age 66 years, of Alexandria Township, NJ, died peacefully on his family farm, “Storm Acres”, on Monday, April 11, 2022, surrounded by his loving family and under the caring watch of Hunterdon Hospice.

Born in Elizabeth, NJ on October 26, 1955, son of the late Francis James Daley, Jr. and Patricia Connelly Daley, Fran was raised in Clark, NJ, and moved to Alexandria Township shortly after getting married in 1978.

Graduating from Clark High School in 1973, Fran’s life story is one that is grounded in his love of exploring and not being afraid of trying new things. From being one of Pepsi’s top salesmen to owning a farm, from being a ‘Girl Dad’, to becoming a ‘Gampy’, Fran’s life is rooted in his ability to love everyone and everything.

It was at Frank’s Wheel, a local hot spot in Clark during spring break of 1975, where a chance encounter between Fran and Ms. Donna Ellen Storm would change both of their lives for the better. Donna, who was home on spring break from agriculture school, decided to go out one night with her friends and well, once Fran saw her, that was it for him! The couple formed a strong friendship, and then relationship that was based on common interests and respect for one another. They would marry on September 24, 1978, at St. Agnes Church, Clark, NJ, and their life together on the farm would begin soon after.

Finding a passion for agriculture himself, the young couple, whose aunt and uncle had a farm in Ringoes, NJ, began what anyone who is in farming knows, is a tough life. Starting with around thirty acres, they raised cattle and horses, chickens and pigs, among other animals and crops. During this time, Fran also was a delivery person and salesman for Pepsi Co., New Brunswick, NJ, which was common at that time. A member of teamsters Local #125, he had a large territory in Central NJ. Because of the locations covered, Fran would leave extra early in the morning to be home before sunset to work the land and ensure all was tended to as needed. He would do this for the next thirty-five years, earning the top regional salesman spot for the company many times. Fran was not just a salesman to his customers; he was their friend. He was a ‘straight-shooter’ and was well respected for his honesty. All the while, coming home on-time daily to ensure that he could watch the sunset with Donna, appreciating the gift of life and of love on their little piece of heaven on earth which they named ‘Storm Acres Farm’.

Following his retirement from Pepsi, Fran purchased the Martin’s Potato Roll bread route for Hunterdon County, and opened FJD Distributors as the owner and operator. He continued with this enterprise for the next decade, retiring a few years ago to spend more time at home with Donna on the farm.

Donna and Fran’s loving union would not only yield them many more cattle and farm animals, but what would become the next generation of the farm, their daughters, Catherine Elizabeth and April Lee. Both girls remember their father as the strongest man in the world, who loved them unconditionally. He was there for them in all ways, and their friends used to look at Fran as a second father. In fact, Fran often interrogated the gentleman callers of his daughter’s friends to ensure that they were good enough for his ‘other daughters’.

If it was Donna who captured Fran’s heart, and it was the second generation who nurtured Fran’s heart, it could be said that the third generation completed his heart. Becoming a ‘Gampy’ to Mason James, Logan Nicholas, Bella Mae, Charlotte Storm, and Wyatt James was the epitome of his world, and eclipsed the beauty of any sunrise across his beloved farm. He was so proud of his grandchildren, and even more proud of his girls for raising them in ways that made them realize, even the youngest ones, that they are loved beyond measure and the importance of putting that genuine love back out into the world.

Fran was proud of what he and Donna accomplished over the years, especially since they worked for everything they had; many times, farms are passed from one generation to the next, but he and Donna started out fresh and it was only through hard work and some luck, that they got to where they are today. Those life lessons will surely inspire the next generations to always, always follow their passions.

Becoming very respected for his knowledge in the farming arena, Fran was on the Board of directors of the NJ Beef Industry Council; was a past President and on the Board of Directors of the NJ Polled Hereford Association; and was a Delegate for the NJ Agriculture Convention for many years.

He had many hobbies, all of which involved family, friends, and farming. Riding horses, camping, watching the New York Yankees and New York Giants, riding his International red tractors, having large family meals on the farm, and watching both the amazing sunrises and sunsets on the farm, are but just a few of his interests.

Fran’s humor was legendary, and he also had a knack of coming up with various names for things that would become part of normal vocabulary, even outside of the immediate family.  From ‘Farmer’s Water’ (a Coors Light), to ‘Gampy Burgers’ (a real, farm fresh burger), Fran had an innate ability to touch people’s hearts and lives for the better, simply by being himself. He was not one to shy away from emotion, and this openness of spirit was just like a ‘Welcome’ sign hanging around his neck for strangers to know that Fran was a friend to all people.

His decade long battle with leukemia comes as a shock to many, given that Fran was private about his diagnosis. He simply did not want others to treat him differently or to feel sorry for him. He never wanted to be defined by his diagnosis but rather, by his character. Yet another lesson of strength and resilience he leaves for his adored grandchildren.

Radio broadcaster, Paul Harvey, made a speech in 1978 in which he said, “And on the 8th day, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, “I need a caretaker.” So God made a farmer. 

God said, “I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, milk cows, work all day in the fields, milk cows again, eat supper and then go to town and stay past midnight at a meeting of the school board.” So God made a farmer. 

“I need somebody with arms strong enough to rustle a calf and yet gentle enough to deliver his own grandchild. Somebody to call hogs, tame cantankerous machinery, come home hungry, have to wait lunch until his wife’s done feeding visiting ladies and tell the ladies to be sure and come back real soon — and mean it.” So God made a farmer. 

God said, “I need somebody willing to sit up all night with a newborn colt. And watch it die. Then dry his eyes and say, ‘Maybe next year.’ I need somebody who can shape an ax handle from a persimmon sprout, shoe a horse with a hunk of car tire, who can make harness out of haywire, feed sacks and shoe scraps. And who, planting time and harvest season, will finish his forty-hour week by Tuesday noon, then, pain’n from ‘tractor back,’ put in another seventy-two hours.” So God made a farmer. 

God had to have somebody willing to ride the ruts at double speed to get the hay in ahead of the rain clouds and yet stop in mid-field and race to help when he sees the first smoke from a neighbor’s place. So God made a farmer. 

God said, “I need somebody strong enough to clear trees and heave bails, yet gentle enough to tame lambs and wean pigs and tend the pink-combed pullets, who will stop his mower for an hour to splint the broken leg of a meadow lark. It had to be somebody who’d plow deep and straight and not cut corners. Somebody to seed, weed, feed, breed and rake and disc and plow and plant and tie the fleece and strain the milk and replenish the self-feeder and finish a hard week’s work with a five-mile drive to church. 

“Somebody who’d bale a family together with the soft strong bonds of sharing, who would laugh and then sigh, and then reply, with smiling eyes, when his child says they want to spend their life ‘doing what dad does.’ So God made a farmer.”

Fran’s life is one who embodied every word of Harvey’s speech. His dedication to his craft, his community, his friends, his family, and his God, will not soon be forgotten. Rest in peace, Fran, and with each sunset, we know you will be with us for each sunrise.

In addition to his parents, Fran was preceded in death by his faithful canine companion, a border collie named Gracie, on April 3.

Surviving are his cherished best friend and wife, Donna Ellen Storm Daley; his daughters and sons-in-law, who became sons to him, Catherine and Michael DePaolo and April and Shaun Gural; his five grandchildren, Mason Masterson, Logan Masterson, Bella DePaolo, Charlotte Gural, and Wyatt Gural; his siblings and their spouses, Mary Daley, Eileen and Scott Villa, Patte and Sherwood Thornton, and Tim and Sharon Daley; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Pat and Fred Haluko; his aunt and uncle, Robert and Mary Daley; many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family; his beloved farm animals; and many, many dear friends who supported him as he traveled the path of life.

Family and friends are invited to gather on Friday, April 22, 2022, from 3:30-6:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Wright & Ford Family Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 38 State Highway 31, Flemington, NJ.

A vigil service celebrated by Rev. Matthew Marinelli and life celebration services officiated by Certified Life Celebrant D. J. Wright will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Friday following the gathering and to which all are welcome. If you are unable to attend the service, but would like to email something to be read on your behalf, please click HERE to generate an email to the funeral home.

Interment will be private.

You are encouraged to visit Fran’s permanent life celebration site at www.wrightfamily.com to light a candle of hope, leave messages of condolence, share words of comfort and recollection, and post photographs of his life.

In lieu of flowers, those who wish are asked to contribute in Fran’s honor to a fund that is being created to help the family offset the multitude of medical and final expenses incurred during his decade long battle with leukemia. Any and all amounts are greatly appreciated, as it is the thought that touches their hearts the most. Contributions may be made by clicking HERE . For those who wish to mail a check, please make the check payable to ‘In Memory Of’, noting ‘Fran Daley’ in the memo, and mailing to ‘In Memory Of’, P.O. Box 5472, Charlottesville, VA, 22905.

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Wright & Ford, your local, family owned & operated “Life Celebration Home”