Franklin D. Pulliam

Frank was born in Choctaw, Okla., Nov. 7, 1940, to Jessie and Lillie Pulliam. They moved to Kansas then on to Oregon. Frank went into the Navy in 1958. He was stationed at El Central, Calif., where he worked with the flight crew when planes came in. When they had fire drills they would put Frank in an asbestos suit, put him in a plane and set it on fire and practice rescues; they used Frank as he was the smallest. Then he went on the U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard Ship where he worked in the ship store and provisions. He was a SN (E3) when he got out of the Navy; he stayed in the reserves for three years. Frank lived in Washington and Ketchikan, Alaska, where he was a hook tender for a logging company moved to Kansas then Missouri where he met and married Mary Ann Goodman.

Frank worked as a supervisor for Midwest Distributors Truck Company, carpet laying, raised cattle, worked for Bourbon County in Kansas.

Frank and Mary Ann loved to travel with her sister and brother, Richard and Naomi. They traveled over the United States and took a cruise to Alaska.

Frank and Mary Ann moved to Deming, New Mexico in 2010. Frank loved to go out in the desert to look for rocks to make into jewelry. He also loved to hunt and fish. Frank belonged to the Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Shriners, American Legion, V.F.W. and D.A.V. Frank was President of the Navy Association for the Bon Homme Richard Ship for 10 years.

Frank entered his eternal home March 31, 2016, at home with his wife and sister-in-law by his side. Leaving his wife, Mary Ann of 42 years; five children, Shawn, Rodney, Frank Douglas, Julie Ann, and Mary Jean; two sisters, Ruth and Gary Bracck, and Lois Mosley; 15 grandchildren; and 30 great-grandchildren.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Jessie and Lillie Pulliam; brother, Calvin; and two sisters, Dorthy Adams and Maudie Roberson.

Visitation will begin Saturday, April 30, at 2 p.m., at the Community Christian Church, in Nevada, Mo., with the memorial service there at 3 p.m., with Pastor Logan Sperry officiating. Military honors will be accorded.