Edna Leona Carolyna Franklin

Edna Leona Carolyna Dockweiler Franklin, beloved mother of six, grandmother of sixteen, great-grandmother of eighteen and great-great-grandmother of five was received into Heaven at her home on the evening of September 24, 2008. Her children and much loved caregiver Pat were with her. Edna was 91 years old. She was welcomed into this world on November 12, 1916 to Jergen Heinrick and Catherina Gerhardina Margarithe Gerdes Dockweiler, at Perry, Oregon. Edna was one of 11 children.

She attended schools in La Grande and Baker City, Oregon graduating with honors from Baker City High at age 16 in 1932. On June 3, 1934 she married Thomas Jefferson Franklin. They had six children, five of which are still living. Thomas was received into Heaven on November 12, 1979.

Edna never remarried, devoting her remaining years to being a mother and grandmother. She always said her greatest joy in life was spending time with her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. There wasn't a child she met that didn't become one of her grandchildren. Many a time you could find her little apartment occupied with many of the children in her neighborhood who had come to spend time with their "little grandma Edna."

On September 24, 1974 she joined the Fraternal Order of Eagles Ladies Auxiliary, 34 years exactly to the day of her passing. In addition, she was a member of the Supreme Emblem Club of the United States #215, participating in all parts of each organization until she could no longer see to drive. She was a 50 year member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hermiston, Oregon.

Edna was an extraordinary seamstress, known around the Umatilla, Union and Baker Counties for the beautiful wedding dresses and formal gowns that she made for various people until she was in her early 70's. In addition to sewing, she was also a very good cook. Her husband worked on the railroad and quite a few of his friends would ask to come to dinner so they could have one of Edna's home cooked meals. She was an avid reader as well, reading all sorts of books, from history to engineering, and in between, saying you can never learn too much. Her favorite book to read was the Bible, and she often said the two things she missed the most since losing her sight to Macular Degeneration was sewing and reading her Bible every day.

She will be very missed by her family and friends. She is survived by daughters Jeannie Niederer, Pahrump, NV, Betty Stickney, Hermiston, and son Timothy Franklin, Pawnee, IL. She is also survived by one sister, Anna Dockweiler Smith of Medford; sixteen grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, and five great-great-grandchildren.

Edna was preceded in death by her husband, son Sonny, her parents and 9 of her siblings.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Vange John Memorial Hospice or Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 4, at Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hermiston. Burial will follow at 2 p.m. at Hillcrest Cemetery in La Grande.

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