Morris W Franks

Morris W. Franks, long-time resident of Tucson, died peacefully February 6, 2024. He was 95 years old.

Morris was born December 30, 1928, in Franklin, North Carolina, to JD (James Davis) and Fannie Mae (neé Kanaday). The Franks family visited various locations throughout the southwest as Morris was growing up and, after he graduated from high school, decided to move “out West” permanently, eventually settling in Carlsbad, New Mexico. This is where Morris would meet his future bride, Barbara Alford, whom he married on Christmas morning 1951.

He attended Eastern New Mexico University in Portales before serving in the US Navy from 1951-1953. After his time in the Navy, he and Barbara, now with a toddler in tow, moved to Albuquerque, where Morris earned a degree in geology from the University of New Mexico.

In 1959, the family moved to Farmington, New Mexico, where Morris landed a job in city government, eventually becoming City of Farmington Planning Director. In the summer of 1969, he accepted the position of Senior Planner for the City of Tucson, and the family relocated one last time. He continued to work in Tucson city government until his retirement in 1990.

Morris made the most of his retirement years. He and Barbara both loved to travel and did so frequently throughout the Southwest. One of the high points of this time was when Barbara gave him a Colorado River rafting trip through the Grand Canyon for his 70th birthday!

He was also an avid motorcyclist and an active member of the Christian Motorcyclists Association for many years. Along with a fellow biker from California, Morris travelled throughout the western United States, Baja, and Costa Rica, and his numerous trips to Mexico extended to the tip of the Yucatan Peninsula. He didn’t give up his beloved Honda Goldwing until he was well into his 80s.

Morris was a devoted Christian and actively supported the work of several charitable organizations, helping to meet the needs of the homeless and hungry, not only in Tucson, but also along the Arizona/Mexico border area, as well as various Native American reservation communities.

Morris died peacefully while in hospice care, looking out the window at his beloved Catalina Mountains, his family by his side. He is survived by his son, Mark Franks of Little Rock; three grandchildren, Noel Franks of Salt Lake City, and Greg and Ashleigh Migliario of Atlanta; and three great grandchildren, Verona, Theo, and Ira Franks of Salt Lake City. He is preceded in death by Barbara, his wife of 55 years, and by his daughter, Lisa McLario.

Morris often expressed his profound love and admiration for Darlene Jones, his dear and devoted friend and companion through the decades to the very end, a highly treasured part of the family, his “other daughter.”

He also felt deep gratitude for the staff of Casa de la Luz Hospice, who provided their services, for both him and Barbara, with great care and compassion. And to Adaya Wiebe and her amazing caregivers at his final home, Abuelos at Edgewood, he would want to say “Thank you for your love and attention. You made me feel like family and made my last days beautiful.”