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 | Mary Ellen Franklin May 15, 1915 – May 13, 2012 services directed by Gering Memorial Chapel |
| Mary Ellen Franklin May 15, 1915 – May 13, 2012 Mary Ellen (Petty) Franklin, 97, of McGrew, Neb. died peacefully at the home of her daughter in North Carolina on Sunday, May 13, 2012. Her funeral service will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2012 at 2 p.m. at Gering Memorial Chapel with Pastor Lyle Hinebauch officiating. Burial will be at High Butte Cemetery in McGrew. Visitation will be Friday from 1 – 8 p.m. at Gering Memorial Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the family. Tributes of sympathy may be left at www.geringchapel.com. Mary was born on May 4, 1915, in Brule, Neb. to Thomas and Elsie (Sanders) Petty. She graduated from high school in Ogallala, Neb. in 1933 and obtained a B.A. degree from the University of Nebraska-Omaha. Mary married William Franklin on March 31, 1940. Apart from an eight-year period in Alaska, they lived most of their married life on a farm south of McGrew until Bill’s death in 1986. Mary spent many years as a social worker, first for Scotts Bluff County and then for the State of Nebraska. She retired in 1982. She enjoyed square dancing and served as the President of the Nebraska Square and Round Dance Association. She was also the Silver Haired Legislator for Western Nebraska for many years. Survivors include her children: William (Joice) Franklin of Las Vegas, Nev., Charles (Deanna) Franklin of Sun City, Ariz., Nancy (Austin) Lewis of Stokesdale, N.C., Nelson (Tamara) Franklin of Anchorage, Alaska, and Richard (Margaret) Franklin of Canyon Country, Calif.; daughter-in-law: Venetta; 10 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters: Loucile, and Laurene; and son: James. | |
