Francois came to the United States in 2017 as an agricultural worker for Byron farms where he continued to work until the time of his passing. In 2018 he married Kelsey Gorman. In 2020 they welcomed their daughter, Eloise von Solms. Thrifty and resourceful, Francois had an industrious mind that could fabricate and fix just about anything. Quiet in nature, his love for his family and friends was loud.
He is survived by his daughter Eloise, his mother Jonieta (Michiel) Van Zyl, Yzerfontein, South Africa, sisters Angie (Jurie) Du Toit, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia , and Jean-Marie (Erlo) Conradie, Pikketberg, South Africa. Kelsey, Mother of Eloise, in-laws Bernie and Lisa Gorman.
Francois was proceeded in death by his maternal grandparents Jacobus Coenrad(Koos) and Ann Liebenberg of South Africa.