The Rev. Robert Mize Jr., an Episcopal priest, founded Saint Francis Boys’ Home more nearly eight decades ago in Ellsworth, Kansas. Fr. Bob had seen too many troubled youth disappear forever into the juvenile justice system, and he wanted to help them reclaim their lives and their futures. He offered hope. Over the years, the scope of our ministry has grown, encompassing a broad range of programs and services in seven states. Today, Saint Francis Ministries provides care to thousands of children and families, yet it all began in 1945 in a little town in Kansas. What follows is Part I of the story of Jim Deaton, a former resident of the Boys’ Home who came to Ellsworth in the late 1960s/early 1970s as a young teen.

Continued from Part I …

He also met Fr. John Hartman, the dean, who lived on the campus with his wife and two children. It was his first contact with the Episcopal faith and a priest.

“Going back to church was an experience for me,” he says. “I’d always been a believer, but I hadn’t been to church for a number of years. At Saint Francis, we had chapel every day and on weekends, and I was reintroduced to Jesus Christ. That was important to me and helped me get through each week. But it wasn’t like we were going to church all the time. We also had school and a social life.”

All 22 of the boys at Saint Francis attended Ellsworth High School, and they definitely stood out.

“The city boys and girls could wear jeans to school, but we could not. We always had to wear slacks and tucked-in dress shirts. It was understood that there could be negative connotations about being in a boys’ home, so we were taught to show the positive side and carry ourselves a little better. Plus, it taught us to stick together. Someone might pick on us, but we never picked on each other. We formed strong bonds that still exist to this day. I will say, though, that the city people of Ellsworth treated us very well. We had few problems, and they rarely looked down upon us. That made all the difference.”

Jim got along especially well with one Ellsworth student and her family, Sue Burgenger. The two dated for a few months until Jim decided to drop out of school at 17.

“It was the early 70s, and I still had that wandering spirit,” says Jim. “I’ve always been fascinated by anything technical because, growing up a Deaton, I was always around heavy equipment. I’d already learned to weld by the time I was 12. So, I knew what I wanted to do; it was just a matter of getting there. I also knew I wasn’t learning that stuff at school. I’ve always been a self-learner, so I dropped out and immediately started working.”

That’s also when he left Saint Francis Boys’ Home. He had fallen in love with Sue and wanted to marry her, but he wasn’t sure how her family would feel about her marrying a high school dropout. The couple spoke with Sue’s parents, and as a ward of the court, Jim had to consult with the judge. Ultimately, the two were allowed to marry. The ceremony took place in the Boys’ Home chapel, with Fr. John Simpson officiating. They’ve stayed together for 53 years and have three daughters and four grandchildren.

“I owe a lot to Sue’s family,” says Jim. “They believed in me and treated me well, even though they had every reason to think I’d lost my mind. I regret not staying in high school, and I certainly wouldn’t recommend that decision to anyone, but I’ve worked hard for many years to educate myself. I’ve always loved the trades, and over the years, I’ve earned multiple technical certifications that have enabled me to provide a good living for my family.”

Thanks to the support of his wife and in-laws, family friends, and the bonds he forged at Saint Francis, Jim could blaze his own trail through life and forge a 50-year career as a master-certified RV technician and service manager. He just needed people to believe in him.

“That’s what Saint Francis Boys’ Home did,” says Jim. “It provided a foundation and a promise that even if you do wrong, you can get back on track. You won’t be cast aside. The staff never considered incarceration or juvenile justice as a probable path for us. It was always, ‘We’ll never let you get to that point. We’ll help, guide, and support you.’ That was important because many kids don’t get that kind of support from their families. I had more than two dozen people who weren’t my biological family but became my family because they cared about me … and that’s what the Boys’ Home was all about.”