Francis S. Prior

Francis S. “Frank” Prior, 84, of Southington, CT, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. He was the loving husband of Alexia H. (Wiencek) Prior for nearly 59 years.

Frank was born in Clinton, MA on July 26, 1941 and graduated from Clinton High School in the class of 1959. He proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Machinist Mate Second Class Petty Officer. After his service Frank moved to Southington, CT where he worked as a sales manager at Pratt & Whitney for 26 years and later retired from L.M. Gill Welding and Manufacturing. Frank was an avid sportsman who enjoyed fishing and hunting, especially with his dog Willy. At home he faithfully rooted for (and sometime cursed) his two favorite teams, the Boston Red Sox and the New York Giants. Frank and Alexia loved their annual trips to Race Point Beach at Cape Cod and the Saratoga Race Track as well as visits to Foxwoods Casino. Most of all, Frank cherished his family and loved to playfully tease his grandchildren.

In addition to his wife Alexia, he is survived by three children; daughter, Dawn Harris and her husband Matthew of Shrewsbury, MA, son, Mark Prior and his wife Stephanie of Southington and daughter, Karin Prior and her husband Jonell Rape, currently at Naval Station Rota in Spain, and four grandchildren; Benjamin and Megan Harris and Arianna and Katarina Prior. He is also survived by five siblings; Donald Prior (Jeanne) of Agawam, MA, Lois Sargent (Harold) of Templeton, MA, Fred Labree of Clinton, MA, Michael Labree of Worcester, MA and Yvonne Pianowski (dec. Thomas) of Clinton, MA and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11AM on Friday, February 6, 2026 at St. John the Evangelist Church, 80 Union St., Clinton, MA with burial to follow in St. John’s Cemetery, Lancaster, MA. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to the care of McNally & Watson Funeral Home, 304 Church St., Clinton, MA. Online condolences may be placed at www.mcnallywatson.com.