Rosie Lee Franklin

Rosie Lee Franklin made her journey home on Saturday September 7, 2024 after 91 years of spreading love and wisdom. She was born Rosie Lee Allen on August 29, 1933 in Baird Texas, Callahan County. She was the fourth of eight children born to Eddie Levi Ham Allen and Raymond Sappington Allen. She spent her childhood in Baird, Texas, California, and Denton Valley, Texas. Rosie married Randolph Harold “Buddy” Franklin on June 7, 1955 in Papillian, Nebraska but returned to Texas soon after.

Rosie had a heart for God, her husband, and her thirteen children that she vowed to God, at each birth, to do her best to return their souls back to Him. The proof of her efforts is very evident in her 13 children, 39 grandchildren, 67 great grandchildren, and 4 great great grandchildren as well as many more friends and family. Christ’s light was obvious in Rosie as she spent her life giving, helping, and providing for her family and others in need, with a heart huge enough to make everyone feel special, loved, and connected. She looked to Christ to provide for her and the family in difficult situations and reflected on her life saying, “I’ve had a wonderful life!” She spent much of her life assisting her grown children with the grandchildren and spending time with each family including times when husbands were on military deployments. This provided her many opportunities to have adventures in places such as Virginia, Tennessee, Washington State, Japan, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, Puerto Rico, throughout Texas and many, many more adventures, including a cruise to Belize, Routan, and Cozumel. It also provided time to bond with her grandchildren which she referred to as, her babies.

Though Rosie’s most important accomplishment was raising her children, she had many other skills and jobs throughout her life. Some of them were the watch factory, sewing factory, state school, cafeteria cook, pastry chef, strawberry picking, test driving, live-in care-giver for several elderly, and so much more. She was skilled in welding and taught her son-in-law the trade. She also did the repairs around the home such as plumbing, roofing, canning, and making eight gallons of sweet tea at one time while preparing a feast from meager provisions for the family. She was also a long-standing member of the Comfort Church of Christ and was instrumental in keeping the doors open and flooding it with family. 

Rosie had a great sense of humor to the very end. It may be surprising to many that her favorite movies were Men in Black, Lonesome Dove, and O Brother, Where Art Thou?. Her favorite hymns were This is My Father’s World, Beulah Land, and His Grace Reaches Me. She had a tape of Willy Nelson’s gospel hymns in her car that she listened to all the time which was also playing when she went to be with our Lord. She was always singing little songs, poems, and sayings from her childhood and throughout her life. She was a master at putting puzzles together and would out-do anyone “helping” her, right up until the end of her life. She was amazing.

She is preceded in death by her father and mother and all her siblings; the father of her children, Buddy Franklin in 2013; two daughters Roseanna Hemby in 1988 and Lorrie Myers in 2021; two daughters- in-law Patty Franklin and Sharon Franklin; two sons-in-law Cary Craig and John Cagle III; and, three grandsons, Christopher Franklin, Arlin Gulley, and Troy Franklin.

She leaves behind 11 children, Margaret Paradowski (Stanley) of Kerrville, TX, Janet Tedford (Rodney) of Hamilton, TX, Randy Franklin of New Braunfels, TX, Dale Franklin of Elemdorf, TX, Eddie Franklin (Colleen “CeCe”) of Frankewing, TN, Katie Franklin of Dunley, TX, Walter Franklin (Jenny) of Moore, TX, Wanda Love (Benny) of Pleasanton, TX, Sandra Craig of Buffalo Gap, TX, Susan Corder (Carey) of San Angelo, TX, and Mary Cagle-Hall (Dana Scott) of Tarpley, TX. There are also two surviving sons-in-law Roy Hemby of Kerrville, TX and Eugene Myers of Baytown, TX. She also leaves behind a total of 107 grand, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren, Melodie Paradowski, Wendy Wheat (Jon), Kaitlyn Wheat, Parker Wheat, Dylan Paradowski, Travis Paradowski, * Jene’ Tedford, Jaiden Hudspith (Keith), Jenevieve Hudspith, Judah Hudspith, Journey Page (Dakota), Hatley Page, Jolie Page, Jayme Tedford, Jase Tedford-Moltz, Jennie Jo Macy (Christopher), Joshua Macy, Jonah Macy, Jodie Macy, Julie Anna Macy, Jamie Peake (Michael), Justin Peake (Kailee), Jaylee Gray (Spencer), Brynley Gray, Jessica Baker (Ryan), Jayne Baker, Jorgia Baker, Jentry Baker, Wyatt Baker, *Stefanie Franklin-Adams, Blayne Pennartz, Aria Adams, Heather Kylen, Grayson Kylen, Emma Kylen, Michael Fisher (Tara) Cody Fisher, Addysen Fisher, James Fisher (Ashley), *Dustin Gulley (Melissa) Aries Gulley, Jareth Farr, Jaylee Gulley, Storm Myers, Jaycie Emery, *Jessie Franklin (Kelsi), Cedar Rose Franklin, *Raymond “Lee” Crisp, Jr. (Tammie), Connor Crisp, Tyler Crisp, Sawyer Crisp, Matthew Crisp (Shelby), Slate Crisp, Kyndall Crisp, Karen “Renee” Garcia (Andreas), Xander Crisp, Kyle Crisp, Kalani Garcia, Rosalinda Garcia, *Leah May Baker (Andrew), Hadley Baker, Melissa Franklin, Sarah May, Samantha Franklin, Adam Franklin, *Donna Valdez (Gino), Jaylynn Valdez, Abagail Valdez, Lacy Walker (Jacob), Brandon Walker, Mackenzie Walker, Tiffany Ford (Will), Tyler, McDonald, Emilie Booth, Trevyn Booth, Jamey Booth, Mason Ford, Brodie Ford, Trinity Love (Stephanie), Pepper Love, Stormy Love, Hardy Love, Ruger Love, Tabitha Allen (Clayton), Cole Allen, Charlie Allen, *Joshua Craig, Curtis Craig (Ashley), Kaysi Anna Craig, Carley Craig, Dylan Craig, Aubrey Craig, Peyton O’Neill, *Callen “Blake” Corder (Jennifer), Caroline Corder, Cole Corder (Chelsea), Caleb Corder, Paisley Corder, Casey Corder, Magnolia Corder, *Ryan Hall (Amber), Lilly Garcia, Ivy Hall, Nevaeh Syer, Tracen Franklin, Aaron Fox, and Baley Cagle. Rosie is also survived by many nieces, nephews, and treasured friends in Christ.

She left a large legacy in Christ’s light. Her wish is that you all walk in His light so she can see you again someday soon.

Her children rise up and bless her; Many daughters have done nobly but you exceed them all. (Proverbs 31:28-29)

Memorials may be sent to: Comfort Church of Christ, 819 Front Street, Comfort, Texas 78013 or Arms of Hope (Medina Children’s Home), 21300 Texas-16 North, Medina, Texas 78055, (830) 522-2200.

Memorial services will be held 10:00 AM, Saturday, September 14, 2024 at the Kerrville Funeral Home Chapel. 

Services with integrity, pride, and honor are under the direction of Kerrville Funeral Home. (830) 895-5111