Jean Frances Franklin, age 102, of Hamilton, Missouri, passed away Tuesday, June 11, 2024, in Faribault, Minnesota.  Jean was born on December 12, 1921, in Kingston, Missouri, the eldest daughter of Lynn Vern and Martha Coleen (Dustin) Bethel.  She grew up in Kingston and graduated from Kingston High School.

Jean married Henry Franklin in Kingston, MO, on August 11, 1940.  They began married life in Columbia, MO, and then lived in a number of places while Henry was in the Army Air Corps.  Jean worked at various jobs during this time.  Some of her favorites were:  Boeing Aircraft, Indian Motorcycle factory, selling cigarettes and candy at the PX, and sewing on buttons at an Army shirt factory.

After WWII, Jean and Henry and their children Ron, Gary and Sharon settled in Marysville, California, where Henry worked first as a cabinetmaker and then as a rural mail carrier.  In 1959, the family moved back to Missouri, where Henry continued as a rural mail carrier from Hamilton and Nettleton, and Jean worked as a cook at the elementary school in Hamilton.  Henry passed away in 1987.

After retirement, Jean kept busy with volunteer work and church activities.  She enjoyed reading and read more than 2,000 books over the past several years.

Jean is survived by:  daughter-in-law, Teresa Franklin of Sullivan, Missouri; son, Gary Franklin (Nancy) of Columbia, Missouri; daughter, Sharon Nelson (Robert) of Faribault, Minnesota; 9 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren; 7 great-great grandchildren; sister, Sue Craig of O'Fallon, Missouri; and numerous nieces and nephews.  All the grandchildren and nieces and nephews loved to visit Grandma (Aunt Jean) and enjoy her wonderful home cooking, especially her delicious pies, peanut brittle, peanut butter balls and cinnamon rolls!

Jean was preceded in death by husband, Henry; son, Dr. Ronald Franklin; father, Lynn Bethel; mother, Coleen Bethel; and sister, Norma Kuhnert.

Services will be held at the Hamilton Federated Church, Pastor Mike Baker officiating, on Wednesday, June 19, 2024.

Visitation will be at the church at 10 a.m., with the service to follow at 11 a.m.

Burial will be in the Highland Cemetery, Hamilton.  A lunch will be served at the church following interment.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Hamilton Federated Church.