Mr. Cecil Ray Franzina

A public viewing and Christian Memorial Service will be held at St. Stephen United Methodist Church in Mesquite, Texas, 2520 Oates Dr, Mesquite, TX 75150 on Tuesday, September 29th, 2026. Visitation will start at 10 AM, Service at 11 AM with a Reception following the service. A brief graveside service will follow the reception at 2:30 PM located at the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, 4600 N Beltline Road, Sunnyvale, Texas 75182.

Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of Anderson-Clayton-Gonzalez Funeral Home of Mesquite, Texas. Online condolences can be made at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/13043516

Cecil Ray Franzina, born to Leo J. Franzina and Sophie Kollatschny Franzina in Cat Spring, Texas on June 20, 1927. Cecil enjoyed telling stories about his youth and the hard times he and his family faced. Stories about utilizing all parts of a slaughtered farm animal and the meals they made from those animals. He spoke of his working for pennies as a young boy, sweeping up the floor at the local barber shop before and after school. He talked about growing up in a poor but frugal family which helped instill into his personality his reluctance in parting with any useful looking piece of metal, wire or do-dad. He had a plan for it later. In his teens he worked with his father in the water well drilling business in Bay City, Texas. In school he ran track, played football and played a French horn in the band.

After leaving high school, Cecil joined his good friend Jim Edwards at East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas where he studied Education. While at school, he met his first wife Virginia Ruth Sullivan and was father to three children; Cindy, Cathy and David.

Cecil graduated from East Texas State University with a degree in education and later a master’s in education. He had a successful career, initially working for Dallas Independent School District teaching a vocational education curriculum and finishing with Mesquite Independent School District as the coordinator of Special Education. He also administered the adult education GED program.

Cecil was also a Noble Hella Shriner for 75 years and was honored by his fellow brothers.

Cecil and Patricia are long time members of St. Stephen United Methodist Church in Mesquite, Texas where in the early 1960’s he constructed and helped affix the crucifix atop the main chapel of the church.

Cecil’s true passion was in ranching and raising cattle on his land near Sulphur Bluff, Texas. He was an accomplished cowboy, welder, artist, inventor, hay bailer, hunter, fisherman, a wood and metal structure builder and storyteller. He constructed many hundreds of feet of barbed wire and pipe fencing along with the cattle pens to help run the cattle on his ranch. He could saddle and wrangle horses for round-up all while doing what is necessary to run a successful operation. He was an accomplished welder and could fix anything. He was an accomplished structure builder. He built his first house in Bay City, Texas. Later, on his land in East Texas he converted an old brick silo standing on his property into living quarters. He also had to rebuild it a second time after a tornado took the first one away, leaving nothing but the brick. For his deer hunting and other adventures, he built a cabin in the remote northeast Texas woods, it was alongside a picturesque pond, that he dammed up himself and has been camping and hunting there for over 60 years. The stories of landing that big fish and his battles with the beavers were never dull.

Cecil enjoyed telling his stories to all who would listen. He had a great memory for his experiences and loved sharing them. He also had the unique ability to transition from one story to another without missing a beat so you may as well pull up a chair.

Cecil married Patricia Smith Fulenwider in 1977. She enjoyed his love of the ranch life and was his steady companion in all his endeavors. Patricia’s children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren brought the joy of youth to his life.

Later in life, he and Patricia enjoyed evenings at the casino in Oklahoma. He would tell of his wins and losses, and as he would tell it, always seemed to come out ahead.

At 99, he had big plans for the future. He had a perpetual list of jobs to do and things to fix and did a great job completing most of it. He was still looking forward to his 100th birthday.

Cecil was the architect of a life well lived. He was loved by his family and friends and influenced the lives of many others. His presence will be missed by all.

Cecil is survived by his wife, Patricia Smith Franzina. His children; Cindy Feld (Charlie) of Dallas, Cathy Rhodes (Dave) of Houston and David Franzina (Carol) of Dallas. Grandchildren; Glenn Farley (Debbie)of Quinlan and Ragan Rhodes (Jerrod) of Houston. Great grandchildren; Tessa Farley of Washington and Grant Farley (Averi) of Austin.

Cecil was also very much loved by Patricia's family, including; Son, Keith Fulenwider (Teddi), Emily, Rob, Parker, Zoey, Amy, Corey, Lola, Blake (Jessica), Madelynn and Lane. Daughter, Catherine Eldredge (Tracy), Jennifer, Kurt, Audrey, Olivia, Jeremy, Christopher, Angela, Sara, Logan, Daniel, Melissa, Jonathan, Kason, Josiah and Lila. Son, Brian Fulenwider (Bobbie), Lindsey, Nick, Charlie, Brady, Zachery, Taylor, Oliver and Ezra. Also, Jerry Smith (Tami) and Kelly Fulenwider.

He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Norman J. Franzina and Julia Franzina Ford.