Mary "Ferne" Morrison Franklin, 95, formerly of Iowa City, died Saturday, April 5, 2014 at The Village of Legacy Pointe in Waukee following a long illness.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 10, 2014 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Iowa City with The Very Reverend Rudolph Juarez officiating. Visitation will be held at the church from 9 a.m. until service time. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Mary’s name to St. Patrick's Catholic Church.
Mary was born on May 28, 1918, to Ed and Mary Etta Morrison in Keswick, Iowa. She graduated from Keswick High School at the age of 15 and attended American Institute of Business and the University of Iowa. She married Harold Franklin on July 12, 1937 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They were married for 68 years. Mary resided in Iowa City until 2008, when she moved to Waukee, Iowa.
Mary was a member of St. Patrick Church and served on the Pastoral Council, President of the Altar and Rosary Society and was a Guild Leader for several years. She was active in PTA, Boy Scout programs, and The University of Iowa Women’s Club. She served on the United Way Board, County Compensation Committee; The Governor’s Committee for Iowa and was active in politics for many years.
Mary worked at The University of Iowa Dental Clinic for 10 years and The University of Iowa Hospital Gynecology Clinic for 12 years. Upon their retirement in 1983, Mary and Harold spent the winter months in Apache Junction, Arizona.
Survivors include Mary’s three children: Phyllis Franklin-Devine (Wilbur-“Butch”) of Waukee, Iowa, Stephen (Mary) Franklin of Lemoyne, Pennsylvania, and Scott (Sue) Franklin of Urbandale, Iowa; five grandchildren, Jeffrey (Debra) Franklin of Reading, Pennsylvania, James (Karen) Franklin of Boulder, Colorado, Lissa Franklin, Michael Franklin and Nicholas Franklin of Urbandale, Iowa; four great-grandchildren, Joshua Franklin, Leah Franklin of Reading, Pennsylvania, Kyle Franklin and Paige Franklin of Boulder, Colorado; and two sisters-in-law, Irene Morrison of Sigourney, Iowa and Dorothy Morrison of Des Moines, Iowa. Mary is also survived by 35 nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, seven brothers (Ellis, Forest, Orville, Edward, Roscoe, Elmer and Raymond) and three sisters (Hattie, Ruth and Zenna).
Her husband and family were the center of her life. She loved children, gardening, and birds. Entertaining was always high on her list and she had a host of friends and neighbors.
The family would like to invite you to join them for fellowship and lunch in the church hall immediately following the burial.
http://www.lensingfuneral.com/obituaries/obituary-listings?obId=97094#/obituaryInfo
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