In Loving Memory of Tony Everette Franklin

April 15, 1935 – October 30, 2019
Tony Everette Franklin, born April 15, 1935 in Bokoshe, Oklahoma, to Mike and Hattie Franklin, died peacefully with his wife Jennie next to him on October 30, 2019 at the home of his daughter, Judy, in Colorado Springs, surrounded by love, family and memories.
Mr. Franklin, otherwise known as “Papa” for the past 24 years, was loved by those who surrounded him.
A hard worker throughout his years, working mainly as a coal miner and then a front loader operator and asphalt layer for Walsenburg Sand and Gravel. He loved all those he worked with at Walsenburg Sand and Gravel, to include, Louie and Evelyn Vezzani and their son Gary Sr., his son Gary Jr., and daughter Michelle.
Papa was a force to be reckon with. Work hard play hard obviously was his motto, and he did just that. Hitting the dance floor on the weekends in his younger years with a 7 and 7 in hand, two stepping, swing dancing, and enjoying the party to taking his family on yearly vacations in his “fixed up” vacation vehicles; camper, trailer, THAT MOTOR-HOME that always broke down somewhere in between that 2 week vacation time (Somehow we always made it to our destination and back home, except for that one time we only got as far as Raton, NM).
Papa was a builder with his hands; a welder, building constructor, engine re-builder, garden grower, cement and asphalt layer, grass cutter, snow blower, you name it, he could do it, fix it, build it or rebuild it. He gave this trait to his children Anthony and Judy. “You better know how to take care of your car if something GOES wrong”. Which ALWAYS did! Much like his vacation vehicles, his kids too had to endure the REBUILDING and REPAIRING of the vehicles he purchased for them as teenagers almost on a weekly basis to get to and from school, college, and driving MAIN street on the weekends. His nickname for Judy, was “MIKE” his dad’s name, who apparently “hit the town” every weekend. He would say “IT’S THE WEEKEND, MIKE (Judy) IS GETTING READY TO HIT THE TOWN”. These are the memories we will all cherish the rest of our lives of Papa.
Papa loved his granddaughters Caralissa and Siteris; “Big Foot” and “The Teris” were so loved by him. And he is the only one that could get away with such nicknames for them.
Loved ones that cleared the path for Papa are his Father Mike, Mom Hattie, Sisters Margaret and Bertha, and his dear Fran. Loved ones that will miss Papa until they meet again are his wife Jennie, Brother Raymond, Daughter Diana and Son Everette, his daughter known to him as Mike or Jutz, her husband Brad, and granddaughters Big Foot and The Teris, son Anthony (nickname cannot be put on public display), his partner Beth, nieces and nephews, cousins, grandchildren, friends, and especially Felicia (Graham) Jones and the Graham family.
We imagine Papa released all his pain and the angels took him to a place where we can only see him with WWE (wrestling) on repeat, Elvis singing live, Loretta Lynn on record, and of course Dolly with some Conway Twitty and dancing with a 7 and 7 in his hand. Thank you to everyone over the weeks and months for your support.
You may send sympathy cards to 256 Gold Claim Terrace, Colorado Springs, CO 80905. In Lieu of flowers, go to your local assisted living facility, and donate your time to those being assisted. They need all of us! Visitation and Memorial Service will be held at Comi Funeral Home, 1804 E Main St, Trinidad, CO 81082. Visitation Thursday, November 7, 2019 from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, November 8, 2019 Memorial Service at 10:00 a.m. in the Comi Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow at Trinidad Catholic Cemetery.