Jane Ayers Franks

Jane Ayers Franks

December 4, 1931 - August 29, 2017

Jane Ayers Franks, 85, Michigan City, Indiana, passed away Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at 7:40 pm in her home.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am, Friday, September 1, 2017 at Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel, 418 Washington St., Michigan City, IN with Pastor Kevin Patterson officiating. Burial will follow in Swan Lake Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be from 4:00 pm -7:00 pm, Thursday and from 9:00 am until service time Friday at the Ott/Haverstock Funeral Chapel.

She was born December 4, 1931, during the Great Depression, on a cotton farm, in Obion County, near Newbern, Tennessee. She was the 7th of 8 children born to the late Euel and Leona (Stafford) Ayers. On April 5, 1952 in Michigan City, IN, Jane married John William "Bill" Franks who survives in Michigan City, IN. He has been her loving husband and best friend for 65 years.

Also surviving are her loving children, Kathy Callan of LaPorte, IN, Kenneth (Judy) Franks of LaPorte, IN and Daniel (Carm) Franks of Hobart, IN; seven adoring grandchildren, Jill Blanchard of Hobart, IN, Mitchell (Teresa) Franks of Valparaiso, IN, Ariana Franks of Tacoma, WA, Keith Callan of LaPorte, IN, Laura Callan of LaPorte, IN, Rick (Laura) Foddrill of Kingsburg, CA and Jon Foddrill of Hobart, IN; her cherished great-grandchildren, Jeremy Blanchard, Brooke Blanchard, Jake Blanchard, Laila Eve Franks, Emma Foddrill and Constance Foddrill; cousin, Betty Davis; and her niece, Joyce Miller who was born on her birthday.

She was also preceded in death by her grandson, Jacob W. Franks; three sisters, Mildred Ayers, Margie Rush and Thelma Wilson; and four brothers, Elvis, Martin, John and James Ayers.

Jane grew up on dairy farm near Martin, Tennessee. She graduated from high school in Martin, Tennessee in 1951. Jane grew up in the Baptist church and was baptized in the Obion River when she was 12 years old. After high school, Jane came to Michigan City to visit her sister, Thelma and brother, Elvis. She got a job at Citizens Bank as a bookkeeper and met Bill, who was on leave from the Army. They were married six months later and Bill was shipped off to Japan. Jane followed him over there and they spent about a year in Tokyo. She and her husband joined the First Baptist Church in Michigan City and raised their children in that church.

Jane was a homemaker and enjoyed reading, sewing and working in her flower gardens. She loved having big family dinners at her home. She enjoyed traveling with her husband. Jane was a Girl Scout leader, Cub Scout den mother, president and vice-president of Sand Pebbles County Home Extension Club. She loved taking her kids and grandchildren to the beach. Jane enjoyed playing pinochle and belonged to a pinochle club which she and seven friends started in 1959. Jane was a caring and generous person. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She loved spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and always said, "They are the joy of my life."

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