LAWTON, Okla. – A graveside memorial service is planned Larry Lee Franklin Sr. at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, at the Brush Colorado cemetery, with a luncheon planned after at the Brush Country Club “The Course” at 2301 W Mill Rd, Brush, Colo.
to follow.
Larry Lee Franklin Sr., born Nov. 3, 1940, in Bridgeport, Neb., died peacefully on Sept. 13, 2017, at Comanche County Memorial Hospital in Lawton. He was 76.
Larry was one of three children born to Glen and Charlotte (Smith) Franklin. Larry, after graduating high school in Bridgeport, enlisted in the United States Navy. After an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1965, Larry attended Chadron State College and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree. After graduation Larry moved to Hillrose, Colo., where he started his business career with Western Sugar.
In 1972 he met the love of his life Beatrice Carol Koehler Lusby and they were married July 2, 1972. Larry furthered his career with Travelers Insurance Company and moved his family to Broomfield, Colo. After a brief stay in Broomfield, Larry had the opportunity to move his family to Visalia, Calif., where he became CEO of Western Farm Management. The family lived there for two years before moving to Torrington, where Larry purchased a 2000-acre wheat farm and started his career as a wheat farmer and cattleman.
The family lived in Torrington for 33 years, where Larry had success as a cattleman, commodity broker and rancher. Larry and Carol raised three children together and were married 42 years, Carol passed away in Lawton in January 2014, following a long
illness.
Larry loved to camp, fish, travel, and spend time exploring with his bride. After her death, it was never the same.
Larry was preceded in death by his wife Beatrice Carol Koehler Franklin, his parents Glen and Charlotte (Smith) Franklin and his brother Gary Franklin. Larry is survived by his sister Jana Lou and Fred Flessner of Kearney, Neb., his children Lee and his wife Sherry, Patty, and Carole and her partner Jason and his seven grandchildren, Ashlee, Ellee, Shelby, Joshua, Brayden, Arianna and Kiera. He also leaves behind six nieces and nephews and a number of other relatives and friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Elks Lodge, 120 E 20th Ave, Torrington WY, 82240 or to COPD Foundation, 3300 Ponce De Leon Blvd, Miami FL 33134. There is also a memorial planned for Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, at the Elks Lodge in Torrington at 4:30 p.m. Please come and celebrate with
the family.
