Ray Franklin, 92, of Elizabethton, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, March 16, 2016, peacefully at his home surrounded by loved ones.
Mr. Franklin was a native of Carter County. He was an Army veteran of World War II and retired from Inland Containers. He was a member of Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and brother. He leaves his family with a wonderful legacy of love, caring and stories of the past.
Mr. Franklin was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Annie Christine Brock Franklin; his parents, Roby and Ivy Myrtle Franklin; grandson, Chad Hall; sisters, Mattie Jean Franklin and Ruby Ollis; and brothers, Millard Franklin and Joe Franklin.
Survivors include a daughter, Connie E. Hall; a daughter and son-in-law, Gail and Jeff Lyons; a son, Stephen Ray Franklin and girlfriend, Tammy Vanhoy; sister-in-law, Ethel “D” Ward; brothers and sisters-in-law, Grady and Pat Franklin and William and June Franklin; grandchildren, Selena Hall Welch and husband Jeff, Benji Whitehead and wife Missy, and Cheri Clavier and husband John; and great-grandsons, Jackson Clavier and Charlie Clavier. Two loving pets, Tiger and Fluffy, stayed by his side and gave him great comfort.
A service to honor the life of Ray Franklin will be conducted at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 17, at Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church with Rev. Randy Johnson and Rev. Mark Potter officiating. Music will be under the direction of the Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church. The family will receive friends from 5 until 7 p.m. Thursday at Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church. The graveside service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, March 18, in the Peters Cemetery, 319 H Heaton Road, Elizabethton. Military Honors will be accorded by the Carter County Honor Guard. Active pallbearers will be Ken Rose, Carl Roberson, Sam Harrison, Clark Verran, Lloyd “Buster” Lyons, Eddie Woods and Stephen Harsh. Honorary pallbearers will be Byrl Clark, Buck Shoemake, Leo Humphreys, Jay Kyte, Jonas Revis, Ronnie Hall, Curt Gentry and his many friends and church family. Those wishing to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at the cemetery at 9:30 a.m. Friday. A special thanks to the staff and employees of Avalon Hospice, Visiting Angels and Amedisys Home Health. For those who prefer, memorials may be made to the Building Fund at Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church, 1503 Riverview Drive, Elizabethton, TN 37643. Online condolences may be shared with the family at our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the Franklin family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.