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Era Mae McFarland Holmes Franklin

contributed by The Hugo Daily News

Era Mae McFarland Holmes Franklin died on January 13, 2006 in Choctaw Nation Nursing Home after suffering a stroke in August 2005.

Era Mae was born in Spencerville, Oklahoma on March 29, 1920. She grew up in Soper, Oklahoma during the Great Depression. Her father died when she was 14 years old. She worked part time while attending school to help her mother in the raising of four younger brothers. Era Mae graduated from Soper High School in June 1938. She married Wesley Lee Holmes on February 2, 1938 and they had two sons and a daughter. As a career Army wife, the family moved regularly to various locations within the U.S. and Europe. Upon retirement from the Army, the family retired to Orlando, Florida in 1961. Era Mae enjoyed camping, boating, fishing and the beaches. She loved to travel and visit with her many friends and relatives. Later in life she visited South Africa and Thailand. Her husband Wesley died in 1972. Era Mae continued to live in Orlando and worked for Sears until her retirement in 1981. She married Hershel Calvin Franklin in 1989 and they moved to Antlers, Oklahoma in 1990. She was active in the Pushmataha Quilting Club, the local chapter of the AARP, and the Darwin Volunteer Fire Department. Era Mae was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.

She was preceded in death by her husbands Wesley and Hershel, her parents, Andrew Burrell McFarland and Lucy May Middleton McFarland, four brothers, A.J. McFarland, Calvin McFarland, George McFarland, and Elvie McFarland, two nieces and an infant grandson.

Era Mae is survived by two sons, Jerry Lee Holmes of Antlers, Oklahoma and Luther Burl Holmes and wife Judy of Belle Vista, Arkansas; and a daughter, Patricia Mae Holmes McQuiddy and husband David of Richardson, Texas. There are six grandchildren, David Wesley McQuiddy and wife Lisa, Deborah Mae McQuiddy Bradshaw and husband David, Michael Patrick Holmes McQuiddy and wife Jennifer, Angela Darlene Holmes, Candy Rene Holmes, and Jill Ann Holmes Craighead and husband Todd. There are eight great grandchildren.

The services for Era Mae Franklin were held Monday, January 16, 11 a.m. at the Soper Baptist Church with the Rev. Robert Duran officiating. Interment was at the Soper Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in her memory may be made to the First Baptist Church of Soper, Oklahoma 74759.

Mills & Coffey Funeral Home - Antlers.

Paid announcement.