MARY LOU FRANKLIN

Mary Lou (White) Metcalf Franklin, age 87, of Shelbina, Mo., passed away on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at 5:00 am at the Shelbina Baptist Homes in Shelbina, Mo.
Mary Lou was born on December 10, 1938 in Shelbina, Mo., the daughter of Chester Wood and Mary Kathrine (Rash) White. She was united in marriage on December 13, 1957 to Clyde Cochrane Metcalf. He passed away August 21, 1988. She later married Carroll Lonas Franklin on June 9, 1990, and he preceded her in death on July 13, 2020.
Mary Lou was a graduate of Shelbina High School and worked for Motorola, Missouri Gravel Company, and the Shelby County Sheriff’s office, and retired from the Shelbina Water Plant. She enjoyed horses, reading, coloring, crocheting, and square dancing. Mary Lou loved visiting with her neighbors and friends and enjoyed wintering in Apache Junction, Ariz.
She is survived by her three children, Jeffery Metcalf (Kelli) of Fort Madison, Iowa, Tammy Dent (Randy) of Melbourne, Fla., and Lori Kraft (Ronnie) of Durham, Mo.; nine grandchildren, Kimber (Metcalf) Dall, Keegan (Metcalf) Swan, Kelsey Metcalf, Randal Dent Jr., Jason Dent, Sarah Dent, Larraleigh (Kraft) Hetzler, Lesleighan (Kraft) Cravens, and Nicole Kraft; and thirteen great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Clyde Metcalf and Carroll Franklin; one sister, Brenda Katherine Hershey, and one brother-in-law Richard Hershey.
Funeral service will be held at 11 am on Monday, March 23, 2026 at the Greening-Eagan-Hayes Funeral Home in Shelbina, MO. A visitation will precede the service starting at 10 am at the funeral home. 
Burial will follow the funeral service in the Shelbina Cemetery in Shelbina, Mo. 
Pallbearers are Randy Dent, Ronnie Kraft, Cody Swan, Ryan Hetzler, Jason Dent, and Randal Dent Jr.
Honorary pallbearers are, Alicia Glover, Missy Stoner, Jim Chinn, Pat Bradshaw, Peggy Steinbeck, and Carol (Toots) Kirchner.
Memorials may be made to Neighbors Helping Neighbors or the Shelby County Senior Citizens.