Mavis Wilean (Jarrett) Franklin

Mavis Wilean (Jarrett) Franklin, of Meredosia, passed away on her 90th birthday, May 30th, 2024, at Blessing Hospital in Quincy, IL. Mavis was born on May 30th, 1934, in Poughkeepsie, Arkansas, daughter of William Daniel and Jeffie Beatrice (Rodgers) Jarrett. Mavis met the love of her life, Eulice Devern Franklin, when he stepped on her fingers at a basketball game. They married on October 26, 1951, in Trumann, Arkansas, in a double wedding ceremony with her brother Ernesteen “Teen” Jarrett and Mary Hattie Franklin. Mavis and Eulice shared 63 wonderful years together until Eulice died on January 28, 2015.

Mavis was a homemaker for most of her life.  She provided foster daycare, and full-time foster care for more than a dozen children. She was a lifelong Christian and served as a Sunday school teacher and director, VBS teacher, church secretary, often sang special music with Eulice, and was also a member of the Sandy Creek Association. Mavis and Eulice enjoyed travelling to local nursing homes to sing country and gospel hymns with the residents.  Mavis was a longtime member of the Baylis Baptist Church and spent the last years of her life worshipping at the Chambersburg Christian Church. She loved gardening, canning, and sewing. Mavis also loved cooking for her family on holidays and Sunday dinners after church. Biscuits and gravy were a favorite of her grandchildren, as well as canned apples. Mavis enjoyed camping, riding four wheelers and sunbathing. You knew it was a good day when you saw Mavis in her orange tube top with baby oil and iodine. Mavis and Eulice visited all 48 of the contiguous 50 United States of America. Along with her husband, Mavis enjoyed weekend "hootenanny" get-togethers with family and friends - enjoying big meals and days filled with music and singing, with Eulice playing the guitar and Mavis singing.  Her greatest love was her family. 

Mavis is survived by her daughters, W. Lois (Steve) Anders of Meredosia; Carolyn (Randy) Johnson of Meredosia; Sherry (Jim) McDaniel of Canton, Missouri; Janet (Tom) Leeper of Jacksonville; Debbie Gallagher of Lupton, Michigan; 13 grandchildren, Tonia Brown, Jennifer Forbes, Bobby Ann Forbes, Michael Forbes, Melissa Mabie, Jessica Gratton, Carrie Johnson, Stacie Hudson, Leslie Johnson, Ilija Cucuk, Randy Caldwell, Robert Caldwell, and Richard Caldwell, also known as “The Centerpiece”; 20 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great- grandchildren; two sisters, Maxcean Long of Springdale, Arkansas and Wanda Carter of Trumann, Arkansas; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her parents and four brothers, “Teen”, “Dub”, “Fudge”, & Donnie.

Memorials may be made to Woodland Cemetery. 

Funeral service will be held 12:00 PM, Tuesday, June 4, 2024, at Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield, IL with visitation held prior to the service from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Interment will follow the service at Woodland Cemetery in Baylis, IL. Memorials are suggested to be made to Woodland Cemetery. Online condolences may be left to the family at www.nieburfh.com. Niebur Funeral Home in Pittsfield is handling the arrangements.

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