Wilma Jean Franklin of Cabool, formerly of Houston, Missouri, left this life on Feb. 23, 2025. She was born on Dec. 20, 1932, at home in rural Boydsville, Clay County, Arkansas.
She was the daughter of Orin (Poppy) and Edna (Potts) Nettles, coming from a large family with nine brothers and sisters, Arvel Nettles, Carl Nettles, Jerry Nettles, Billy Joe Nettles, Lola Woodward, Mildred Burke, Kathleen Greer, Isabell Elliott and Verna Mae Hopkins. They all preceded her in death.
Wilma grew up in northeast Arkansas, born during the Great Depression. She was a part of the northern migration in the 1950s, and came back to southern Missouri in the late 1960s. She was a business owner and a hard worker.
She married Gaylon Romine, and they had four children, Donnie Lee, Gerald, Kathy and Darrell.
Later she would marry LeRoy Franklin, and together they had one son, Billy.
She is survived by Donnie Lee Romine and his wife Debra Miller of Fayette, Missouri; Gerald and Lorraine Romine of Branson, Missouri; and Billy Franklin of Willow Springs, Missouri. Darrell Romine and Kathy Kirkwood preceded their mother in death.
She leaves behind 12 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and seven great great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Wilma was smart, funny and kind. Her family was important to her. She enjoyed cooking all the familiar family foods when company was coming and did her best to keep up with them all.
She loved bingo, cross-stitching, quilting and flowers. She loved music and was a pretty good yodeler.
Wilma was always able to make lemonade out of the lemons.
A visitation for Wilma was held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 27. A funeral was held at 10 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 28. All services took place at Evans Funeral Home Chapel.
