Obituary of Barbara May Franke

Funeral Services for Barbara May Franke of Troy, MO will be held at 10:00 a.m. Thursday, September 19, 2019 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Winfield, MO.  Rev. Lyndel Thompson, Pastor of the Eolia Baptist Church in Eolia, MO, will officiate with burial in Whispering Winds Cemetery near Winfield.  Serving as pallbearers will be Heath Young, Johnathan Franke, Daniel Parsons, Andrew Erbe, Spencer Joyce and Mattheu Knox.  Honorary Pallbearers will be Zachary Knox, Levi Pruitt, Caleb Griffon, Luke Griffon, Logan Colbert, Erik Turner and Ean Turner.

           
Mrs. Franke, 92, passed away Sunday evening, September 15, 2019 at her home in Troy.  Born May 21, 1927 in Alton, IL, she was the daughter of Claude Keeling and Emma Reva Holmes.  Barbie, as she loved to be known as, was united in marriage on December 9, 1944 in Old Monroe, MO to Paul August Franke.  This union was blessed with four children: Claudia, Deborah, Nathan and Paula.  She worked as a file clerk for Drug Package for many years.  Because family was her life, Barbie’s most important job was being a mother and grandmother.  She was the “Queen Bee” of the Family Red Hat Club.  Barbie loved to read and write stories.  Her passion was camping, traveling and painting crafts.

           
After receiving her GED, Barbie went on to take photography classes as part of her love for photography, even creating her own dark room.  Barbie was close to the Lord and attended Foley Baptist Church in Foley, MO when her health allowed.  She loved to watch her favorite TV shows: “Alaskan Bush People” and “Star Trek;” even graduating from “Starfleet Academy.”  Barbie’s favorite quote was “Live Long And Prosper,” and she did it, so very gracefully.

           
She was preceded in death by her parents, Claude and Emma Holmes; her siblings: James, Naomi (Doc), Freddy (Shirley), Billy, Mike (Sharon), Gene and Paul; two sons-in-law:  Rick Reed and Donald Kimberly; and her beloved husband of nearly 63 years, Paul Franke, who died on August 13, 2007.

           
Surviving her include her children: Claudia Reed of Troy, Debbie Kimberly of Troy, Nathan Franke and his wife, Ann, of Troy and Paula Parsons and her husband, Danny, of Old Monroe, MO; eighteen grandchildren, thirty-two great-grandchildren, and nine great, great-grandchildren.  Barbie also leaves several nieces, nephews and her special friend, Rhonda Layton, of Troy.

           
Visitation will be held from 4:00-8:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 18, 2019 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Winfield.  Memorials may be made to St. Joseph Indian School in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home , 3838 East Highway 47, P.O. Box 253, Winfield, MO 63389.