Mary Ellen Franks, age 61 of Mendon died Saturday, Oct. 28, 2017 at Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo following a long illness. She was born in Three Rivers on Aug. 9, 1956 the daughter of Herbert J. and Phyllis M. (Dombroski) Rosen and has been a lifetime resident of St. Joseph County. She was married to Terry J. Franks on Dec. 31, 1974 in Three Rivers. Mary Ellen had worked for Dometic in LaGrange, IN, Star-Craft R-Vs of Topeka, IN, Denton Mills in Centreville, and most recently at Walmart. She enjoyed craft-work, sewing, and knitting; canning vegetables from the garden; hunting and fishing; and going to garage sales.

Mary Ellen is survived by her husband, Terry Franks of Mendon; three sons, Buddy (Crystal) Franks of Colon, Bradley (Melissa) Franks of Leonidas, and Terry Franks, Jr. of Mendon; eleven grandchildren, Jessica, Cody, Nicholos, Jeremy, Taylor, Bryant, Austin, Olivia, Shyla, Kira, and Zoey; her mother, Phyllis Rosen of Three Rivers; four sisters, Delores (Chris) Salter of North Carolina, Martha Tice of Three Rivers, Debra Franks of Mendon, and Nora Rosen of Arizona; and many in-laws. She was preceded in death by her father, Herbert J. Rosen.

The family will receive friends from Noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2017 at the Factoryville Bible Church, 33650 Factoryville Road, Athens, MI 49011. Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the church with Pastor Fred Goebert officiating. Burial will be in Mendon Cemetery. Memorials will be directed to the family. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.eickhofffuneralhome.com