Joyce (Phillips) Franklin

TRAVERSE CITY — Joyce Ann Franklin, 74, of Traverse City, died Tuesday evening, March 15, 2011, at Munson Hospice House. Born Jan. 13, 1937, in Wyandotte, she was the daughter of the late Julius and Mary Elizabeth (Bero) Phillips. On July 5, 1996, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Traverse City, she married James Wesley Franklin.Joyce was a former member of the order Sisters of St. Joseph of Nazareth, Michigan. She had a beautiful Christian life, full of sunshine and cheer, always dispensing kindness wherever she went.She also was a very warm, eloquent person who touched the lives of many through her teaching years at East Bay Elementary School. Joyce always maintained a strong ability to encourage her students.Joyce enjoyed the simple things in life, the scent of vanilla candles, watching the waterfowl on East Bay, family get-togethers, especially those celebrating children, and a good game of O-Heck.She will be truly missed for her sweet disposition, her generous spirit and her loving ways. Joyce is survived by her husband, James W. "Jim" Franklin, of Traverse City; brother, Charles (Mary Helen) Phillips, of Suttons Bay; nieces and nephews, Andrew (Alli) Phillips, John (Lori) Phillips and Paul (Jennise) Phillips; great-nieces and nephews, Natalie, Olivia, Noah, Juliana, Oliver, William and Lucy; brother, Philip (Sharon) Phillips, of Ormond Beach, Fla.; nieces and nephews, Lynnette (Dave) McCluskey, Jason Phillips and Jeremy (Dayna) Phillips; great-nieces and nephews, Finnian, Issaac and Alec; stepchildren, Matt (Kim) Franklin, Kitty (Barney) Ewing, Colleen (Bill) Lihou, Tom Franklin and Meg (Jason) Judd; step grandchildren, Nick Deemer, Josh, Bailey and Hannah Wilson, Jordan Franklin, Kyle and Brynne Ewing and Lily and Pilar Judd, Patrick Roth, Joe and Collin Lihou; and great-grandchild, Jamisen (Franklin) Kabbes.A memorial Mass will be held later this spring, at which time arrangements will be announced. Memorials may be directed to Munson Hospice House, c/o Munson Healthcare Regional Foundation, 210 Beaumont Place, Traverse City, MI 49684 or to the Father Fred Foundation, PO Box 2260, Traverse City, MI 49685-2260.The Franklin family would like to extend a special thank you to the doctors who cared for her and also the staff at Munson Medical Center and Munson Hospice House for the loving care given to Joyce.Kindly share your memories with the family on their online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.Arrangements were made with the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.