Jone LeAnn Franco

Jone brought to this world a spirit of joy and freedom . . . freedom to live life . . . loving . . . laughing and caring about others. She loved America and her Lord Jesus Christ above all, and wanted to make it a better place like her forefathers intended it to be. She campaigned . . . guarded the borders and held prayer vigils at courthouses and public places of power. No progress was too small and no mountain too tall. She lived her life to make a difference . . . and therefore, we are all changed and will never be the same. Jone was born September 3, 1954 to her birth parents, James Nelson and Ruth Catherine Bardin. Because of family needs, Jone and her birth sister and brothers were cared for in the Children's Home of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. At the age of six, Jone was adopted by a waiting family, desperately wanting another child and a son who desired a brother or sister. Reverend Charles and Judy Hill, and son, Dickie, received God's great blessing and their family was complete. Jone moved with her family from Oklahoma to Arkansas and Tennessee. She was involved in church, sang solos and made great friends wherever she lived. She graduated from High School in Memphis, Tennessee and majored in nursing at Union University, Jackson, Tennessee. She felt her greatest accomplishment was the raising of two wonderful sons, Robert Garrett and Ruben (Bucky) Franco. She adored them and her husband Ruben Franco with her whole heart. They cared for her in loving, caring ways throughout her four-year battle with cancer. Jone is survived by her husband, Ruben Franco Jr.; son, Robert Garrett and wife Sarah and son, Everett of Mississippi; son, Ruben Franco III and fiancé Nicole Min of Washington, D.C.; brother, Dick Hill of Houston, TX; sister, Christy King of Edmond, OK; sister, April Whitener of Nevada; brother, Christopher Bardin of Tempe, AZ; brother, Kelly Field and wife Jeri of Ft. Worth, TX; brother, Scott Holt and wife Pat of Dallas, TX; brother, Mark Holt and wife, Susan of Richmond, VA; sister-in-law, Bertha Pinney and husband, John of El Paso, TX; sister-in-law, Rosio Sanchez and husband Mario of El Paso; brother-in-law, Rene Franco of El Paso; father-in-law, Ventura Ruben Franco of El Paso; mother-in-law, Maria Andréa Arredondo of El Paso; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her birth parents, adopted parents and sister-in-law, Dot Hill. The family will receive friends at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home, 10129 FM 1097 W. Rd. Willis, TX 77318, on Tuesday, January 10, from 6:00 - 8:00pm. Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, January 11, at 12:00 noon in the Chapel at Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home in Willis, with interment following at Smith Memorial Park Cemetery adjacent to the funeral home. Memorial gifts in honor of Jone's memory may be made to Father's House Family Worship Center, 115 Arapahoe Drive, Montgomery, TX 77316. You are invited to leave a written condolence to the family on our website at www.shmfh.com.

Jone LeAnn Franco

September 3, 1954 - January 11, 2012