MARTHA LOUISE BROWN FRANKLIN,
was born on March 29, 1925, at the family farm in Kirbyille, Missouri, just outside of Branson.
She was born in the same room as her dad and almost all of her brothers and sisters.
She attended the School of the Ozarks. She grew up knowing the values of family, hard work, honesty, and helping your neighbors, along with a strong faith in God. She left her birthplace for work in Houston, Texas, but she never forgot her roots and continued to make many trips to the house where she was born to celebrate family and friends. While in Texas she met the love of her life, Earl Franklin, who she married when he returned from WWII. They started a life together in the hills she loved, but Earl soon returned to the Air Force for his career. They traveled all over the U.S., and were also stationed in Puerto Rico. Louise managed the household during many moves and raised their three children with the values of the Ozarks. After moving every three years, it was strange to settle down in Sherwood, where she had a home for over 50 years. Always involved in church and volunteer life, Louise was a member of Sylvan Hills Community Church, Grace Bible Church, and Cornerstone Bible Fellowship.
She was also involved in the Disabled American Veterans’ Auxiliary, where she was an officer. She did over 5,000 hours of volunteer work at the VA hospitals in Little Rock and North Little Rock. She and Earl received numerous awards, including the Governor’s Volunteer Excellence award presented by Governor Bill Clinton. Louise was known to be a friend to those who needed her and was famous for her loaves of home baked bread, given to people who helped her or just needed a little present to cheer them up. Louise has spent her last years at Parkstone Retirement Center and was known there for her friendly face, helping hands, and her luck at bingo and skill in dominoes. Thanks to the help from her friend and caregiver Lynn O’Neal, she was able to stay at Parkstone to be with her many friends. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years and four brothers and sisters. She leaves behind her three children, Ed Franklin and wife Carolyn of Hot Springs, Ark., their son, Greg Franklin and wife Marie and their son Henry of Seattle Wash.; daughter, Judy Franklin Snoek and husband Bryan of Houston, Texas, and their son Ian Snoek and wife Cassi and their children, JB, Sadie, Maizy and Zachary of Houston, Texas,; and daughter, Lynette Franklin Phillips and her husband Ken of Vilonia, Ark., and their son, Geoff Phillips and wife Ashley and their son Judah of Sherwood, Ark., and her other son, Jon Phillips and his wife Chelsea and their children Gracyn and Lincoln of Horseshoe Bend, Ark. She is also survived by one brother, Kenneth Brown of Edwardsville, Kansas, and her sister, Pat Brown of Richmond, Mo., and many nieces and nephews. Louise’s smile and helping hands will be missed and remembered by all.
Visitation for family and friends will be held Saturday, May 15, 10 to 11 a.m., at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Rd, North Little Rock, Ark., where funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. Face masks and social distancing encouraged. Please go to: www.griffinleggettresthills.com to share a memory and to view the service via Facebook Live, the link is under services.