Mary C. Ortiz Franklin

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Mary C. Ortiz Franklin went to be with the Lord on March 5, 2016 in San Angelo. She was born on Oct. 22, 1923 in San Antonio to Eduardo Ortiz and Mercedes Almanza Ortiz. She married Ashby Woodrow Franklin on Jan. 3, 1948.  

Mary traveled extensively due to her husband’s military career. She lived in Gonzales for 30 years and then moved to Olympia, Wash. where she lived for 11 years.

Mary was a cafeteria worker for the Gonzales and Harlandale school districts for 14 years She worked at San Angelo Central High School cafeteria for one year.

She went to Baylor University and earned her GED. Although she needed to quit school at an early age, she was self-taught and at the urging of teachers who knew her potential, went on at Baylor to receive her teaching certificate in bilingual classes and taught English as a second language at Texas A&M.

Her hobbies included sewing, reading and serving faithfully at her church. She served at Rose Heights Baptist Church for 10 years in  Fort Worth, Goodwill Center Missionary Church for 15 years in San Antonio, Bisbee Baptist for three years in Mansfield, F.B.C. three years in Prosper, Harlandale Baptist Church for five years, San Antonio Primera Iglesias Baptist Church for 17 years, Gonzales Efeso Baptist Church for 15 years and also in Smiley. She taught Sunday school in Olympia and was guest speaker at numerous luncheons there for 9 years.

Mary was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Ashby Woodrow Franklin; son, Lionel Franklin; sisters, Rebecca Ortiz and Rosie Reyna; brother, Pete Ortiz; grandsons, Jason Zimmer and Jessie Franklin. She is survived by her daughters, Elizabeth Zimmer (David), Angela Aguilar (Ida); sons, David Hernandez, Sonny Franklin (Rachel), Tommy Franklin (Debra); daughter-in-law, Susan Franklin; and grandchildren; great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 10 from 5-9 p.m. with an evening prayer service at 7 p.m. at Brookehill Funeral Home. A procession will depart the funeral home on Friday, March 11 at 8:30 a.m. with a 9 a.m. Graveside Service at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery.

Please sign the on-line guestbook at www.missionparks.com under the obituary section.

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