Mary Lou Francka

With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Mary Lou “Maw-Maw” Choate Francka of Bolivar. She was a beloved wife, mother, Maw-Maw, sister, aunt, and friend to many. She went to join her Lord and Savior at the age of 76 on Thursday, September 5, 2024, suddenly and peacefully, in her home. Mary Lou was born May 5th, 1948, in Springfield, the daughter of B.A. and Mary Albert Choate. She grew up in the Springfield, Walnut Grove, and Morrisville areas, where she happily attended church and Bible Schools at Oakville Baptist Church when picked up by the preacher. She worked on the family farm doing any chores that were necessary, in addition to baby-sitting and helping to raise her 10 siblings. Many childhood days were spent down at the river escaping the wrath of her brothers. They would force the girls to be horses, tie them up on the bluff, and then leave them as they headed back to the house. She worked at Frito-Lay where she delighted in bringing home the “rejects” as a treat for her siblings, and then proudly graduated from Marion C. Early High School with the class of 1966. Mary Lou met Bill Francka, the love of her life, at The Little Bo after attending the stock car races with her family in the summer of 1967. Their dates were often at the drive-in watching Elvis movies which Mary Lou loved while Bill slept. She was baptized at St. Agnes in the spring of 1968, and married to Bill on May 4, 1968, at St. Agnes Cathedral in Springfield. They shared 56 years of marriage, and to this union were born three children, Lisa, David, and Thomas. She was a hard-working farmer’s wife raising her children and cooking many large meals for the farm hands. The table was always full with fried chicken, smothered steak, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, fresh tomatoes, salad, rolls, home-made ice cream, angel food cake, brownies (with and without walnuts), and no-bake cookies. She and Bill enjoyed supporting the SMSU Bears basketball teams in the 1970’s and 80’s with the Francka siblings, as well as making many trips to St. Louis to support the Cardinals. They were able to take one family vacation to St. Louis in the summer of 1979 to enjoy Grant's Farm, the zoo, the Arch, Stan Musial’s restaurant, and the Cardinal games. She was also very active in Lisa’s FHA activities, as well as the boys’ FFA events. She was an avid card player, shopper, Chiefs fan, and she greatly enjoyed her weekly trips to the beauty shop. Mary Lou cherished the 3-day trips she would make with Bill to Branson in the spring and fall. She was the loudest and proudest cheerleader in the stands for her children and grandchildren’s ballgames. You always knew she was there, and the gyms and ballfields will never be the same! She had unconditional love for all of them. She loved travelling out west with Bill, Jake, and Katie, to Nashville and Memphis with Gary and Glenda, Washington D.C. and Disneyworld with Lisa and Aubrey, the ocean with Natalie, Shania, Meleah, and Sue, and going on any other adventures she was invited to attend. She had such a huge heart and would do anything for anyone, always making sure that they had enough of everything. She could always be seen near the babies, and was privileged to baby-sit many grandkids and for close friends considered family. Mary Lou was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Kathryn Bingham and Patricia Choate, and one brother, Paul Choate. She is survived by her husband Bill, daughter, Lisa (Jeff) Funk, sons, David (Natalie), Thomas (Jessica), grandchildren, Zachary (Taylor), Shania, Scott (Mikayla), Meleah, Caleb (Haley), Austin (Tatem), Isaac, Aubrey, and Luke, great-grandchildren, Will, Reagan, Lane, Cassidy, Timber, Briar, and baby Carter on the way, brothers, Robert, Billy, Jerry, and Charlie Choate, sisters, Barbara Hoffman, Brenda Burch, and Betty England, and numerous other family members and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mary Lou Francka Scholarship Fund. Please make checks payable to Marion C. Early High School, 5309 S. Main Ave, Morrisville, MO 65710.

Mary Lou Francka

May 5, 1948 - September 5, 2024