La Vera Lambert Franklin, age 85, passed away peacefully at 5:28am, at her home in Irving, Texas on September 10, 2014 following a short illness with cancer. She was born July 1, 1929 near Warsaw, Missouri, the third child to Jennings De Vere and Sarah Lambert. She received her primary schooling at both a one-room rural school and Lincoln Mo. Elementary school, graduating from Lincoln High School in 1948 as Valedictorian. She then attended Business College classes while starting a career at Southwestern Bell Telephone Co. in Kansas City, MO. On December 28, 1951 she was united in marriage to Luther R. Franklin. Following his line of work they moved several times, first to St. Louis, MO where she completed 8½ years with S.W. Bell; then to Denver, Colorado and Portland, Oregon where they adopted son, Wayne, and daughter, Donna when they were infants. The last move was to Irving, Texas where she lovingly guided and nurtured their children while being a “full-time mom”. In 1970 she started a new career as secretary and office manager with Preferred Risk Insurance Group, retiring February, 1997 with 27 years of service. During one year of retirement she re-painted and decorated her home interior. She then worked 1½ year for the Phil Silvermail Insurance Agency and 10 years with the Dwight C. Thornton Insurance Agency, reluctantly retiring at age 81. She was caring, faithful and loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Preceding her in death is her sister, Liburna Lethe Lambert McChesney in 1970, her mother, Sarah Mildred Glines Lambert in 1995, her father, Jennings DeVere Lambert in 1997, and her husband, Luther, September 24, 1990. Surviving and sadly missing her are her sister, Leona Glines Lambert-Suchet of Kansas City, MO., her son Wayne R. Franklin and wife Doris of Sherman, Texas, her daughter Donna Jean Franklin McChesney and husband James DeVere McChesney of Kansas City, MO., granddaughter Rebecca (Becky) Jean Franklin, grandson Carl Wayne Franklin, great grandson Jesse Carl Franklin all of Kansas City, MO. and several step grandchildren and several step great grandchildren. She will be deeply missed by her best friend, Shirley Baldwin and her faithful canine companion, Fluffy. Visitation will be Friday, September 12, 2014 from 4:00pm to 8:00pm at Mt. Carmel Funeral Home. Funeral Service will be Saturday, September 13, 2014 at 10:00am at Mt. Carmel Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be at White Chapel Memorial Garden in Gladstone, Missouri at 6600 NE ANTIOCH RD, GLADSTONE, MO 64119 at 10am Thurs for Visitation and at 11am Graveside Service.