Bessie Franklin

Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday in Memorial Park Funeral Home Chapel of Memories with Pastor Sherman Eastland officiating. Arrangements are by Memorial Park Funeral Home, 6969 E. Interstate 40.

Bessie was born April 13, 1926, in Seminole, Okla., to Indian Seminole Chief Bunny and Rebeth Ripley. She was raised on a farm and worked in the corn fields and took care of her mother as a young girl. She married the love of her life, Eugene Franklin, on March 12, 1942, and spent a wonderful 50 years together before his passing. Bessie went on to become a registered nurse and retired from Highland General Hospital. She was an elder of American Indian Nation Organization and was once named Woman of the Year at ABWA. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene Franklin. Survivors include a son, Billy Joe Franklin and wife Barbara of Houston; two daughters, Rita Provence and husband Jack and Sharon Toledo and husband Freddie, all of Amarillo; her grandchildren, Carl Arthur, Kathryn Gensler, Sheryl Arnold, Mary Bausman, Joe Franklin, Mark Franklin, Carolyn Riddle, April Cruz, Cristy Webb, Marvin Webb, Krissy Rusk and Sonny Toledo and their families; seven great-grandchildren, Krystal, Logan, Alex, Christopher, Janie, Elizabeth and Patrick; 11 great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.

Arrangements under the direction of Memorial Park Funeral Home & Cemetery, Amarillo, TX.