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Submitted: 3/14/23 • Approved: 3/16/23 • Last Updated: 3/19/23 • R1476393-G1476392-S3
May 14, 1923 - June 22, 2022
Jessie Burgess Franks, 99, of Hope died peacefully at her home Wednesday at about 4 am June 22, 2022.
Born May 14, 1923 in Edith, Texas she was the second of four daughters born to Jesse Austin Burgess and Vinnie Myrtle Meek Burgess. With the passing of her mother in 1934 the family moved to El Dorado in about 1936. She and her younger sisters went to school at Parker’s Chapel. Jessie graduated high school in 1941 at El Dorado High School. She immediately began working at the Lion Oil Company as a clerk. At the end of World War II, she met and married Doyle D. Franks of El Dorado in 1947. They attended Vantrease Methodist Church until 1968. Jessie was a faithful member of the Methodist Women’s Circle organization. She was a den mother for the First Presbyterian Cub Scout Pack and a scoutmaster’s wife doing phenomenal things. She helped with Camp Fire Girls and made sure her daughter took dancing/music lessons. She and Doyle and their children were voted DeSota Area Council Scouting Family of the Year in 1967 by motivating three eagle scouts. They served many hours volunteering at the Salvation Army Soup Kitchen in El Dorado.
In 1968 Doyle’s job ended with the Monsanto Company, and he and Jessie took their children with them to points around the world. They have lived in Algeria, India, Germany, and all over the USA. They taught their children core Christian values. Jessie made sure her children attended church regularly. They retired in El Dorado in the 1990’s and moved their church membership to St. Paul’s Methodist Church. There they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August 1997. After Doyle passed away in 2004 Jessie moved to Hope with her daughter, Lisa, and son-in-law Cliff Knowles. Lisa has coordinated her caregiving with amazing charity! While living in Hope Jessie joined First Presbyterian Church of Hope where she enjoyed being a member of the ladies Morning Glories Circle.The couple raised four children in El Dorado who survive her: Randy Franks (Linda) of Morristown, TN; Wally Franks (Fatima) of Ft. Smith; Rick Franks (Patti) of Ozark, MO; and Lisa Franks Knowles (Cliff) of Hope. She leaves nine grandchildren who love her dearly: Eric Franks, Jessica Weiand (Raymond), Matt Knowles, Jaquelyn Griffith (Alex), Kimberly Franks, Nick Franks, Doyle Franks, Rebecca Franks, Amy Fredline (Jeff). Jessie leaves behind eleven great-grandchildren, two sisters-in-laws, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A special thanks goes to Jessie’s caregivers over the years, including Vickie Wilson, Jewel Dean Spellman, JoAnne DeJean, Judi Hood and Laurie McNeil. Also, a big thanks to Hospice of Texarkana. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to: Hospice of Texarkana, First Presbyterian Church of Hope, the Salvation Army, or St. Paul Methodist Church of El Dorado.
A graveside service is to be held 11:00 am Saturday, July 2, 2022 at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens in El Dorado under the direction of the Herndon-Fuqua Funeral Home with Reverend Steve Johnson officiating.
Contributed on 3/14/23 by debbraszymanski
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Record #: 1476393