Mary Lou Franks

Mary Lou Franks, 83, of Spokane, WA, passed away Monday, May 6, 2014, at Royal Park Care Center in Spokane.

She was born June 18, 1930, in Deacon, Ind., the daughter of Orville and Louanna Shanks.  Mary Lou married Donald Franks after graduating from Young America High School.  They had two sons, Donald Jr. and Rick.  The family moved to Florida where they made their home for over 30 years.  

Mary Lou worked as an X-ray technician and nurse in Miami. She and her family were members of the Shell Club where they made life-long friends. They collected seashells in the Florida Keys and traded them with “shell-pals” from around the world.

After her sons were grown, Mary Lou worked many years for the South Florida Fair, where she continued to make friends and enjoy the Florida sunshine. Her husband, Don, passed away in 1996. She then moved back to Flora to be near her brothers and sisters in 2003.  In 2006, Mary Lou then moved to Spokane, Washington.  

Mary Lou loved people and could talk easily to anyone she met. Her out-going personality charmed her friends and family throughout her life.

Surviving Mary Lou are two sons, Donald (Debbie) Franks of Crocker, MO, and Rick (Bonnie) Franks of Spokane, WA; six siblings, John (Helen) Shanks, Hobert (Mary Jean) Shanks, Max (Ada) Shanks, Lucille Mohler, Helen (Gail) Ennis, and Carol (Jim) Allen; two grandchildren, Jason Franks and Mylisa McCall; two great grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild.

Visitation for Mary Lou will be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, at Genda Funeral Home Reinke Chapel in Flora, from 11 a.m. to the start of the funeral service at 1 p.m.  Burial will follow in Center Cemetery in Young America.  Memorials in memory of Mary Lou may be made to Alzheimer’s Association. Online condolences may be directed to www.gendafuneralhome.com.