Reva Nell Franklin

Reva "Nell" Franklin

Reva "Nell" Franklin was born on March 5, 1936, in Marionville, Missouri, to Bert and Eula Richesin. Her father, Bert, was a farmer, and her mother, Eula, was a devoted homemaker. Nell was welcomed into the family by her older brother, Bill Richesin. The family lived in Marionville until 1940, when they moved to Ten Davis, Idaho, and later settled in Apple Valley, where Nell spent her formative years. In 1943, her younger brother, Bruce Richesin, joined the family.

Nell graduated from Parma High School in 1954. While working at a local restaurant, she met Robert "Bob" Franklin, a bank teller who ordered an iced coffee. Having never heard of such a thing, Nell asked her mother what it was. Eula simply told her to pour hot coffee over a glass of ice. That simple order marked the beginning of a lifelong love story.

On July 1, 1954, Robert Victor Franklin married his blushing bride, Reva Nell Richesin, at the Parma Church of Christ. Together they shared 51 years of marriage before Bob's passing in 2005.

The couple welcomed their beautiful redheaded daughter, Vicki, in 1955. Bob and Nell initially lived in Parma, Idaho, before Bob's banking career took the family to Sandpoint, Idaho. They later returned to the Treasure Valley when Bob began working for Simplot in Caldwell. Their son Michael was born in 1959, and in 1963 they welcomed their third child, Tony, after moving to Nampa.

In 1964, the family of five moved to Ontario, Oregon. They relocated to Vale in 1967, the same year Nell's father, Bert Richesin, passed away. In 1968, the Franklin family moved to Nyssa, Oregon, where Nell would make her home for the rest of her life.

Nell began working for Ore-Ida Foods in 1965 and retired after 41 years of dedicated service. Throughout her career, she held various positions but was known to many simply as the beloved "Timekeeper."

Nell was a devout Christian woman whose faith guided every aspect of her life. She encouraged each of her children to develop their own personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. God always came first in her life, followed closely by her deep love for family.

She faithfully attended her children's activities, whether it was Vicki's pep club events, choir performances, church youth groups, and church camps; Michael's musical performances at Nyssa High School; or Tony's baseball games, where her familiar voice could often be heard cheering, "Let's play ball!" Nell was especially proud of Vicki's and Michael's dedicated military service.

Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her immense joy. Her face would light up whenever she spoke of them, and nothing made her happier than spending time with her growing family.

Nell was an avid gardener who loved growing flowers and vegetables. She also had a remarkable talent for keeping her silk flowers looking as beautiful as ever. In addition to scrapbooking, she enjoyed shopping for new treasures. Family members liked to joke that when Nell stopped shopping at Keith O'Brien's, the store closed—and when she stopped shopping at The Merc, it closed too. Of course, that was surely just a coincidence.

Nell was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Robert "Bob" Franklin; her parents, Bert and Eula Richesin; and her brothers, Bill and Bruce Richesin.