Diamond Darlene Franklin

DIAMOND DARLENE FRANKLIN, 90, a beloved Mother, Grandma/Mena, and friend, passed away on July 7, 2026, in Tahlequah, Oklahoma surrounded by her family. She was born on December 5, 1935, in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma to William Ernest O’Dell and Alma (Thompson) O’Dell. As a child, Diamond enjoyed working with her dad, picking cotton, corn, raising chickens, and helping bale hay. She played basketball in high school and worked in the Fort Gibson drug store selling ice cream to the locals. Diamond cherished singing with her three sisters. As the youngest, she never toured with the trio but nonetheless learned to sing with them and carried that love of singing all her life. She attended Fort Gibson High School where she loved to play basketball and graduated in 1952. In 1953, she married the love of her life, Eugene Clifton Franklin, Jr. He joined the Navy shortly after they married. This took them on a Naval journey around the globe. In 1957, Ernie was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. After a brief stay in Oklahoma, they moved to San Diego, California. Then in 1960, the family moved to Honolulu, Hawaii where Robbie was born in 1962. Next, they moved back to Fort Gibson in 1964. They moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia in 1965, then to Culter, Maine in 1967. The family’s biggest naval journey was to San Miguel, Philippines in 1969. The final naval move was to Muskogee, Oklahoma in 1972. The last family move was in 1977 to Fort Gibson, Oklahoma where she lived until her death. Diamond enjoyed working in secretarial roles throughout her life. She worked for Muskogee Tag Agency, Swift and Company, Griffin’s Grocery, Kuykendall Pontiac, and Terry Miller Pontiac/GMC where she retired. Diamond loved spending time with family and friends, however, when you met her, you became her instant friend. She was a lifelong member of Grace Episcopal Church. Diamond loved serving at Grace Episcopal Church, especially singing in the choir, assisting with alter preparations, and advising the vestry. God gifted us with the greatest Mom, Grandma, Mena, Aunt, Sister, and friend anyone could ever asked for. We will greatly miss her, but her legacy will live on in us. She touched so many lives and we, her children and grandchildren, have been filled with wonderful stories from others since her passing. She truly blessed our lives and others. We are so thankful for all her friends and caregivers. She is survived by her two loving sons, Ernie and wife, Cheryl Franklin of Fort Gibson, Robbie and wife, Kathie Franklin of Ponder, Texas; and three grandchildren, Madison Franklin, Nathan Franklin, and Rachel Franklin; many nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and nephews. Diamond was preceded in death by her mother, Alma O’Dell; father, Ernest O’Dell; sisters, Pearl Mounts, Opal Gustus, Ruby Tarbutton; and husband, E.C. (Cliff) Franklin, Jr. A visitation will be held on Thursday, July 16, 2026, with the family receiving friends 5PM – 7PM at Clifford D Garrett Family Funeral Home in Fort Gibson. A celebration of Diamond’s life will be 11:30AM, Friday, July 17, 2026, at Grace Episcopal Church in Muskogee, Oklahoma with Father Omar Cisneros officiating. Committal prayers and interment will follow at Fort Gibson National Cemetery in Fort Gibson, Oklahoma with Ernie Franklin, Robbie Franklin, Nathan Franklin, Jeff Jones, Bryce Thompson, and Tommy Wilson serving as pallbearers. The family of Diamond Darlene Franklin has entrusted her care, service, and burial to Clifford D Garrett Family Funeral Home, Fort Gibson. (918) 478-2555. Online condolences may be left for the family at clifforddgarrettfamilyfh.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Grace Episcopal Church in honor of Diamond Franklin.

Diamond Darlene Franklin

December 5, 1935 - July 7, 2026