Mr. Kerry N. Franklin Sr.

He guided us through childhood and beyond with laughter – lots of laughter – and unbounded love. His family was his world, and he protected us fiercely.

We are his children, the fortunate four – and then seven – who got to call him Dad: Rene’ Franklin Saenger and husband Jeff Saenger, Skipper (Kerry, Jr) Franklin and wife Leslie Franklin, Garland Franklin and wife Lisa Franklin, and Niki Franklin Fuss.

He was born to Merle and Roy Franklin in Canyon, Texas on June 6, 1936, on a Saturday (the 6th day of the week) and he always told us he was born at 6:06 AM. He was the second of five children: Gloria Franklin Smith, Sharon Franklin Levin, Carolyn Franklin Baker, and Sonny (Roy, Jr.) Franklin. He grew up in Canyon and graduated from Canyon High School in 1954. He joined the United States Marine Corps shortly afterward and served one year and four months until he was honorably discharged at the rank of PFC. He returned to Canyon and started classes at West Texas State College, where he got a Bachelor of Science degree three years later in 1958.

From there he was off to Pecos, Texas where he started his 36-year teaching career at Pecos High School and met our mom who was working at the bank. Most of his teaching years were at Kermit High School and Wink High School. He taught science and math to countless high school and college students, many of whom went on to become doctors, pharmacists, engineers, and teachers themselves. He was one of those teachers that still gets mentioned fondly at reunions. And due to his penchant for pranks, those memories usually evoke a laugh and a shake of the head.

Nine grandchildren got to call him PawPaw, and he passed his homespun wisdom and laughter to them as well. And no one could make cinnamon toast like PawPaw. He cut each piece in four squares and put them on a big plate to be eaten while they watched cartoons. He loved them beyond measure, and they loved him the same: Jeremiah Wright, Nathan Wright, Sarah Wright, Ryleigh Franklin, Addison Franklin, Justin Saenger, Britainy Fuss, Jacob Saenger, and Emily Saenger. He also had eight great-grandchildren and his beloved dogs, Gracie May and Henry.

We will miss having him here with us, hearing his voice and his laugh, but he lives in our hearts. He worked hard, and he was a humble, Christian man. Just having him around was a comfort and he would say “I just want to breathe with you” because talking wasn’t always necessary. He taught us all to work hard, to figure it out if we didn’t know the answer, and to not waste a single minute of life because there would be time to sleep when we were dead.

We hope you sleep well, Dad. Give Mom a hug for us. And we’ll see you again someday.

We love you,

Rene’, Skipper, Garland, and Niki

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.bluebonnethills.com for the Franklin family.