Sam Franke

(Jan. 17, 2006)

Sam Franke, also known as Priscilla Mae Marshall, died Tuesday, Jan. 17 at her home in Colorado after a brief illness. Burial was at Fort Logan National Cemetery.

Mrs. Franke was born 1938 in Powell to Milo and Edith Marshall. During her years at Lovell High School, she was active in the pep club, drama club, serving as drama club president her senior year, and also worked on the school yearbook and newspaper. In 1957, she moved to Denver to pursue her dreams and better herself, and fell in love with the city and the mountains. She met LeRoy Franke; they fell in love, and were married for time and all eternity in 1960 at Salt Lake City, Utah.

After graduation from Central Business College, Denver, she pursued positions in government and business, including 12 years as a graphic designer for the Department of the Interior. At the Department of the Interior, she drew detailed maps without the aid of any computer, and wrote studies and books for numerous parks and trails, including the Mormon Trail. She retired in 1998 after serving 17 years as executive secretary for Insurance Specialists, Inc.

As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, she was always faithful and strong, and enjoyed using her time, talents, and means to serve and help those in need. She served as a secretary to many stake presidents and bishops, taught adults and children, greatly enjoyed putting together the monthly ward newsletters and Sunday bulletin, and working in the church library. Most of all she enjoyed going to the Temple.

One of the young men in her group of friends at church in Denver, decided that “Priscilla” was too long, so he was going to call her “Sam.” Soon everyone was calling her “Sam.”

Besides her family and church, her greatest loves were classical music, reading and designing homes with complete scaled architectural renderings which she could create by hand drawing or computer. In high school she had wanted to take shop and drafting, but the boys would not let her, but that did not stop her from learning. She taught herself how to knit, do home repairs or anything she wanted to learn how to do, and remodeled several homes. Being an excellent seamstress, she was able to make the most fantastic costumes, clothing and home decorating items. She took great pride in her home and yard, decorating and planting flowers. Anything she set her mind to learning or doing she did, and did so to the highest standards of quality and perfection.

Left a single parent in the early ‘60s, she rose to the occasion, being both mother and father. Even when finances were tight, she was always able to make something out of nothing. No matter how tired she may have been she was there to help with typing papers and school projects. Frequently she took her grandchildren on weekend outings, to lunch or a movie. She typed her parent’s personal histories, added photos, had them made into books and made sure everyone in the family had a copy.

Her kindness and generosity carried over into her friendships and work. Friends and co-workers could look forward to an original, frequently handmade card, or a special homemade treat, or a lunch out.

Sam was a one in a million lady, a unique person who will be greatly missed by her sisters, Bernadine Asay of Lovell and Flossie Wollam of Powell; daughter Lynne Reno and son-in-law Randy; grandchildren Richard and Laura; cousins, nieces, nephews and friends until the time comes for us to all meet her again. She now begins another great adventure, reacquainting herself with her husband again after so many years, and joins her other sister, Cledyth Monk, formerly of Richmond, Calif., and her parents.

Please share thoughts, funny experiences or stories at www.horanandmcconaty.com even though it may be difficult, because that will help us keep her memory in our hearts.