Obituary of Boyd M. Franklin

Boyd McDonald Franklin, affectionately known by his family and friends as Paco, age 89, of Boone, passed away Wednesday December 30, 2015. He was a native of Avery County and the son of the late Gurney and Alda English Franklin. He was a lifelong member of Linville Falls Community Church and attended Advent Christian Church in Boone where he sang in the choir. He studied Mechanical Engineering at Howard College(now Samford University) in Birmingham, Alabama before serving in the U.S. Navy in October 1945 where he was assigned to the USS Boyd out of San Pedro, CA. Boyd was a Mechanical Engineer and an electrician by trade, operating Boyd Franklin Electric for many years. He was a design engineer with Cellu Products Company and later Sealed Air Corporation. He retired from Sealed Air Corporation in 1997. In his later years he was a Master Boat Builder, building his own houseboat from the pontoon up. He was preceded in death by his wife, LaVerne Killian Franklin, a son, Sidney Dale Franklin and a granddaughter, Marion Franklin. He is survived by a sister, Jean Crenshaw of Linville Falls. A daughter, Leigh Ann Russ. One step son Andy Martin and wife Stephanie of Boone, two step daughters, Morgan Redmond and husband Tom of Boone, and Jennifer Sigmon and husband Mark of Hickory. Seven granddaughters; Evangeline Redmond, Avery Martin, Jillian Martin, Tesia Earley, Anna Bigelow, Casey Hedrick, and Leah Bridges. One grandson, Jonah Martin, and several great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Funeral services from Mr. Franklin will be conducted Saturday, January 2, 2016 at 2 p.m. in the Advent Christian Church, Boone. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at 1 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Caldwell Hospice and Palliative Care, 902 Kirkwood St. NW, Lenoir, N.C. 28645. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com. Austin & Barnes Funeral Home and Crematory is serving the Franklin family.