Franklin Cordell Foreman

Franklin "Cordell" Foreman, age 79, of Telephone, Texas entered his eternal home on March 20, 2023 after a battle with cancer.

He was born November 22, 1943 in Honey Grove, Texas to Charles E and Sarah Kathryn (Holmes) Foreman. Cordell was a graduate from North Fannin High School in Ivanhoe, Texas in 1962. He married Carolyn Whisenhunt on Jan. 4, 1964 at Elwood Baptist Church. They have three sons: Rick, Kevin and Cory Foreman. Cordell was of Baptist faith and had many interests and talents during his lifetime. He served many years on the Sam Rayburn school board and was an active member of the Lions Club. He enjoyed farming and baling hay the majority of his life and operated their dairy farm for 9 years. Prior to the dairy farm, he and his wife owned and operated Lamasco and Telephone General Stores. He was employed by White Shed Water Company for 20 years where he retired as a manager. After retiring, he was employed at Esther's Kountry Kitchen where he served as Carol's sous chef and dishwasher. However, his most prominent job at the café was as President of the Coffee Drinkers Club which was held under his direction every morning. Cordell enjoyed spending his time with family and friends playing 42, dominoes and Canasta. He would give his grandkids such a hard time and call them names when they would beat him at 42 or Canasta, but they would remind him that they learned from the best! He was an avid gardener and incredibly generous as he often shared his homegrown vegetables with his many family and friends in the community. His true love was for his family. He was a devoted husband for 59 years to Carol and his love of sports and passion for his sons was evident in every basketball and baseball game the three played throughout school. Cordell never missed a game and he could often be heard assisting the referees or umpires but only when it was needed. His love only grew as his grandkids continued the tradition in Fannin County. He could be seen in gyms and fields all over North Texas whether he was supporting the Trenton Tigers or the Sam Rayburn Rebels. However, unlike when his sons played, anytime the grandkids' teams came up short, it was clearly the coaches' fault.

Cordell's love of family and his kindness to the community will be missed by many but especially his wife Carol and sons: Rick and Sharon Foreman of Trenton, Texas, Kevin and Sherry Foreman of Ivanhoe, Texas and Cory and Jamie Foreman of Abilene, Texas as well as his 11 grandchildren: Britt Foreman, Ashley Braley, Michael (Lauren) Foreman, Maddison (Brandon) Davis, Blossom (Austin) Allen, Sarah (Jake) Walters, J.J. Foreman, Rikki Foreman, Clare McDowell, Kendell Foreman and Carson Foreman. Also missing him will be his 12 great grandchildren: Charlotte Foreman, Kynslee, Braylee and Kade Moore, Lyla and Kayce Foreman, Baker Davis, Taylin and Hayvin Allen, Hudson, Laikyn and Aspen Walters.

Cordell was preceded in death by his parents Charles and Sarah Foreman, sister Eloise Atkins, and brother Wendell Foreman. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at 2pm at Wise Funeral Home in Bonham, Texas and will be officiated by Craig Vance and Marty
Hutchings. Burial will follow at Lamasco Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 6pm to 8 pm on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at Wise Funeral Home.

Pallbearers will be Roger Foreman, Donald Foreman, Michael Foreman, Brandon Davis, Jake
Walters, Austin Allen, and J.J. Foreman.