Cho-Wella "Doby" Franklin passed away peacefully due to complications from COVID-19 at the age of 74 surrounded by his wife, his children and their spouses on October 28, 2020.

Doby wasn't exactly an obituary appropriate person but here is our best shot at it.

On January 14, 1946 in Checotah, Oklahoma William "Chief" and Nora Franklin welcomed their first child, Cho-Wella Franklin. His favorite little sister, Valerie, joined 7 years later. He graduated high school in Corvallis, Oregon in 1964 and then went to Oklahoma State University. Not that other school in Oklahoma that he greatly enjoyed teasing his baby sister about on game days. He served in the U.S. Army as a training officer during Vietnam and was honorably discharged at the rank of Captain. He completed his Bachelor's degree at OSU in Business Administration. Doby took great pride in being the owner and operator of Franklin & Sons Deckmasters for over 30 years. He was a skilled carpenter with a creative mind. He was a proud Creek Native American and took pride sharing his culture with his family. He donated his time and work to improve the Pine Ridge Oglala Lakota reservation in South Dakota through various projects including building a playground and a pavilion.

Doby enjoyed hunting, motor cross, road trips, boating at the lake, watching old westerns, history, John Grisham novels, cherry pie, playing pool, driving fast and telling a good story. Most of all, he loved his family. He cherished cheering on his family members, celebrating even the smallest accomplishments.

Trying to be succinct about a man like Doby is seemingly impossible. There was and will ever be only one Cho-Wella "Doby" Franklin. He knew how to hurt. How to cry. How to laugh. How to celebrate. How to struggle. How to overcome. And, he knew how to be a really, really good friend. His story is one of both struggle and redemption, grief and joy, sin and forgiveness. He was a father figure to many, generous with his time, always asked how you were doing and was invested in what was important to you. He was very attuned to anyone who was struggling. He knew how to comfort people in their pain. Doby loved Jesus but he cussed a lot. He wasn't a pretty evangelist. He was the real deal.

Doby was reunited with his son, Wes, his best buddy, Captain Bob Hoffman, his parents and countless others when he went home to be with Jesus. We imagine Doby at the gates of heaven with his arms up high squealing, "Wessssyyyy!" Doby often said he hoped there are projects needed done in heaven because worshiping God for eternity sounded a little boring for him. Although we can't really know what heaven is like, we imagine the Great Carpenter coming alongside Doby to build some pretty elaborate playgrounds because He knows Doby's heart.

Doby is survived by the love of his life, JoAnn Meason Franklin who he shared 44 years of his life with; his children: Sean Franklin and wife Shayna of Moore, OK; Tabbie Franklin of Austin, TX; Elizabeth Franklin of Broken Arrow, OK; Nathan Franklin and wife Stephanie of Tulsa, OK; grandchildren: Makyla Newberry and husband Cole, Kierra, Kadin, Ellie, Jackson; great-grandchildren: Blakely, Wyatt; Sister: Valerie Morris and Doug of Tulsa, OK; Niece: Ashley Vogel and husband Jonathan of Evergreen, CO; Mike and Bethany Franklin of Temple, TX. Best friends: Chris Busch and Jake Jones; Several other extended family members and dear friends. He is preceded in death by his son, Thomas Wesley Franklin; his parents: William Penn "Chief" and Nora Franklin; and a brother who died at birth: William P. Franklin, III.

Due to growing concerns over Covid, the funeral service will only available for the public to view via webcast on Thursday November 19th, 2020 at 6 pm here on MooreFuneral.com. There will be a public viewing beginning at 7 pm at Moore Southlawn Chapel, 9350 E 51st St, Tulsa, OK 74145. The graveside service will be 12 pm on Friday November 20th at Fort Gibson National Cemetery, 1423 Cemetery Rd, Fort Gibson, OK 74434


Moore's Southlawn 918-663-2233