Pencie Doris (Smith) Franke, 29 and holding, went to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. She fought the good fight and finished this earthly race with her loved ones by her side.
Funeral Services for Pencie are scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Friday, February 17, 2023, at Calvary Baptist Church with Ronnie White officiating; burial to follow at Eastlawn Memorial Park in Early. Visitation will be held Thursday evening from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Arrangements are under the direction of Blaylock Funeral Home of Brownwood.
Pencie was born to Harley and Olene Smith on April 13, 1937, in Brownwood. She attended and graduated from Brownwood schools, except for a short stent in May, Texas. She attended Howard Payne College (University) for a few years but had to drop out to help support her family. She went to work at Brownwood Memorial Hospital and eventually worked for Dr. Earnest F. Cadenhead.
Pencie met Edwin Ray Franke in 1959 and married on June 23, 1962. They were married for 58 years.
If you knew anything about Pencie, you knew she loved Jesus Christ, her family, her friends, and cooking…in that order. Her love of Jesus Christ came from her grandfather. He lived with them and was blind. She would tell stories how, at the age of seven, she would go to church on Sundays and come back and tell him what the preacher had to say. Then they would have a discussion of what it meant. She loved her grandfather. Toward the end of her life, she would say he was with her and that they had conversations. You never know when angels come to visit.
Pencie loved her family. She had always wanted to be a mother, and she was good at it. She enjoyed taking care of her family and felt like that was her calling even until the end. She loved Edwin, Jeffrey, and Janet with all her heart. She sacrificed so much so they could have what they needed. She always put other’s needs before her own. At one point in Jeffrey’s young life, Edwin and Pencie thought they were going to lose him. Pencie prayed and told God she realized that Jeffrey was just on loan to her and if He needed him more than her, she was willing to let him go. After that, Jeffrey got better. She never wanted to take for granted what God had given her.
She worked as a “domestic enigineer” – that is what she called it. She enjoyed dusting, cleaning, cooking….the mundane things that most people don’t want to do, she found pleasure in them. She would make a game of it and sing as she went along. She had lots of hobbies such as baking, cooking, sewing and crocheting. Her chocolate pies were the BEST!
Pencie was involved in her church, Calvary Baptist, for over 40 years. She made the floral arrangements for each Sunday for many years (which she would say was a God given talent because she did not have any formal training), served on the hostess committee for years, worked in the nursery, and would sub as a Sunday School teacher when needed. She thoroughly enjoyed being a hostess for her Sunday School class parties, wedding showers, baby showers, and anything that involved food and fun. That was one gift she knew God gave her – the gift of hospitality. She liked opening her home up to people.
Pencie Doris (also known as PD by many of her beloved friends) was known for giving sermons to her children, all her children’s friends, children’s spouses, nieces, nephews, and anyone that would listen. She would often say during these sermons, “just be glad I don’t pass the collection plate”. Again, she loved her Lord and Savior and wanted everyone to know about Him. She used every situation as a teachable moment about Christ.
She is survived by her son, Jeffrey Franke and wife Kelly of Brownwood; her daughter, Janet Fronk and husband David of Parker, TX; brother-in-law, Raymond Franke and wife Faye of Cross Plains, TX; brother-in-law, Leo Franke of Cross Plains, TX; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years, Edwin Ray Franke; her mother and father, Agnes Olene Smith and Harley Clovis Smith; sister, Glenda Monette Seider and husband Charles Seider; brother-in-law, Merlin Franke and wife Betty; sister-in-law, Francis Bartek and husband Frank; and sister-in-law, Julene Franke.
Jeffrey, Kelly, Janet and David would like to personally thank all of the staff, especially Misty and Tara, of Solaris Hospice and the entire staff of Brownwood Nursing and Rehab for all of their compassionate care, love and patience they had toward their mother.
In lieu of flowers, a donation to your favorite cancer society or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital would be appreciated.
Online condolences for the family are welcome at www.blaylockfuneralhome.com.