Doris R. Franko

Mrs. Doris R. Franko, age 89, of North Biloxi, MS, died Friday, March 22, 2013, in Ocean Springs. Doris was born in Biloxi, MS on October 11, 1923. She worked for Southern Bell/AT&T Telephone Company for 38 years until her retirement from South Central Bell in 1981 and was active with the Telephone Pioneers of Mississippi. She served as the State Representative and received the Life Member of the Year in 1994. Doris spent most of her retired years doing volunteer work through the Telephone Pioneers, making teddy bears for the Hug-A-Bear Program and dressing hundreds of dolls for the Salvation Army. Making tray favors for all nursing homes and hospitals on the Coast was a joy for her and she would deliver these tray favors every month. Her clown group entertained along the Coast and participated in Camp Bluebird. In addition to her numerous outreach activities, Doris (Dotsie) enjoyed playing bingo several days a week, and playing the penny slots at local casinos. She treasured spending time with her family, 4 grandchildren and friends and touched their lives with her selfless persona and giving spirit. Doris was preceded in death by her husband, Patrick W. Franko, mother, Loretta Ross Radovich Harbison, father, Marco James Radovich (who died when she was four years old) and a brother, Marco Radovich. Survivors include a sister, Bettie Dalgo of Delta Junction, Alaska, daughters, Linda (Ken) Sharp of Long Beach, MS and Margaret (Floyd) Bullock of Biloxi, MS and grandchildren, Michael Bullock, April Bullock, Melissa Sharp and Stephanie Sharp. Visitation will be on Monday, March 25, 2013, from 10 am until 11 am, with an 11 am chapel service, all at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Southern Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions go to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) http://www.donate.jdrf.org.