Bonita 'Bonny' Franklin, 75

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Bonita "Bonny" Franklin, 75, died Friday, May 17, 2019, at Memorial Hospital in Springfield, surrounded by family.

Private family graveside services will be held at a later date at Morrisonville Cemetery. 

Mrs. Franklin was born March 20, 1944, in Taylorville, to Clement and Helen Leinen. She married G. Alan Franklin on Aug. 10, 1968, and celebrated 50 years of marriage.

She and her twin sister, Becky, were raised on the family farm and attended school in Pawnee. She received a degree in specialized education at Illinois State University in 1966. She taught at Mid-State Special Education for 33 years.

Mrs. Franklin had a rewarding career, launching new ideas and concepts in the special education field. She was awarded by the school and students loved her.  She was the co-owner and teacher of Tiny Tepee Nursery School in Pawnee.

She and her husband were a team as teachers, dancing partners and travelers, traveling across the U.S. and Europe. They lived on the Leinen Centennial Farm in Christian County all of their married life.

An active member of Morrisonville Methodist Church, she focused on the children's programs. She was a Red Hat Lady and a member of Delta Kappa Gamma and Eastern Star. She volunteered for Kumler Food Pantry in Springfield. 

She enjoyed gardening and tending to her beloved flowers. Fall was a special time for her and her husband as they would drink coffee on the porch swing and watch the thousands of monarch butterflies who chose their yard as a resting place on their migration south. She was an animal lover, and she held a special place in her heart for her pets. 

She had two children, Alana Sue Franklin and Alison (Ryan) Jacobs; and was a second mother to Elizabeth Pleshe. She boasted of attending so many school activities. She later attended the school activities for her beloved grandchildren, Meana and Mason Jacobs.

Memorials may be made to Kumler Outreach Ministries, Attn: Food Pantry, 303 N. Grand Ave. East, Springfield, IL 62702, or the local no-kill Humane Society.

Online condolences may be left at www.mcclurefuneralhome.com.