Franklin Wayne McLain, Sr

Franklin Wayne McLain Sr.
December 6, 1948 – May 5, 2020

Franklin Wayne McLain Sr was born on December 6, 1948 in Vinita, Oklahoma, and died the morning of May 5 at home, at the age of 71 years.
He grew up in northeastern Oklahoma and attended Sequoyah High School, graduated and was drafted into the United States Army where he served during the Vietnam War.

Upon returning to the United States Franklin chased down Cindy Baker and they fell in love. They were married on April 26, 1975. The loving couple celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary last month. They settled in Blackwell, Oklahoma in 1975 where they raised their family of 5 boys. Franklin & Cindy are active members of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Blackwell. Franklin was a loving husband, father, grandpa, brother, uncle, cousin, & friend to many people throughout his life.He was a hard worker, and if you wanted to go to work with him you better pack a lunch because the man didn’t stop often. He was a night owl and enjoyed sci-fi movies.  The movie theatre was one of his favorite past times.His favorite summer place was the clear water creeks in northeastern Oklahoma.  Franklin always had funny & interesting stories to tell. He enjoyed reminiscing about adventures they had taken with the boys that took them from the East coast to the West Coast, Old Mexico to Canada and all places in between. He enjoyed reminding Cindy and the boys about adventures they had been on. He always had a way of making things fun and interesting. Like the time the family was travelling through the Dakotas and they came upon buffalo, as Franklin would place both hands next to his head with his index fingers in the air like horns and yell, BUFFALO!!! Such antics just about caused a stampede on more than one occasion!Or the time the family was headed to the USA/Mexico border and realized Franklin had some fresh peaches that would be confiscated at the border so Stephany Zinn tried to gorge herself on the peaches as we rolled toward the border. Franklin loved to grill and all his family & friends knew that he was always ready to grill hamburgers & steak! He taught his boys his grill master ways and lead by example. He even grilled while they were flooded in because of the many Chikaskia River floods. Franklin refused to leave and he would ride out the storm. In later years Cindy, being the voice of reason, packed Franklin up to seek high ground with family. He wasn’t happy but Cindy also lead by example and lovingly took great care of him in sickness & health. Franklin was very active with his Cherokee heritage and worked for many different Indian tribes during his career. He was active with his classmates from his time at Sequoyah High School and he always enjoyed a good family reunion! Franklin & Cindy only produced sons so they left the daughters up to the boys as they married some great women to round out the McLain Tribe.He is survived by his wife, Cindy McLain of Blackwell; five sons, Frank McLain Jr. (wife Michelle) of Hayden, ID; Nate McLain (wife Kelly) of Huffman, TX; Joseph McLain (wife Ruthann) of Lakeland, FL, Jonathan McLain (wife Jessica) of Blackwell, OK, and the baby, Isaac McLain (wife Stephanie) of Kansas City, MO, a brother Robert McLain of Indian Territory, a brother Cole Smith and wife Carol of Wellington, Kansas, a sister Barbara Feese and husband Leroy of Liberal, Kansas, a sister Robyn Shreeve Shelby, NC, sister Sandi McLain Fletcher, NC, a sister Teri Tefft Edneyville, NC. 10 grandchildren Mason McLain of Waco, TX; Katelyn McLain of West Richland, ID; Alexandria Lucker Moscow, ID; Sydney Lucker of Coeur d’Alene, ID; Seth Lucker of Coeur d’Alene, ID; Mitchael McLain of Crosby, TX, Kleigh McLain of Huffman, TX; Jackson Silvas of Huffman, TX; Julien Garza & Natasha McLain of Lakeland, FL; Ezra McLain of Blackwell, OK; Nathan & Benjamin Ford of Kansas City, MO. 1 great grandson, Jaydon Alexander Lucker of Coeur d’Alene, ID.He was preceded in death by his beloved grandparents, Jay B Earp & Sarah Jane Raper Earp, parents, Jackson McLain & Melvina Earp McLain Smith, two brothers David Smith & Mark McLain; a sister Becky Morton. Franklin McLain Sr.Always loved and never forgotten! His family will never look at a buffalo without remembering him.  Remembrances may be shared online at www.stittsworthfuneralservices.com.

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