A Celebration of Life Service to honor Kenneth Lynn Franklin will be held Saturday, November 12, 2016 at 10:00a.m. in the Chapel of Forest Lawn Funeral Home. The family will also be hosting a celebration of life service at the Hood Mortuary Chapel, November 25, 2016 at 1:00p.m. in Durango, Colorado with Chaplin Earl Caudill officiating.  Kenneth Lynn Franklin was born October 31, 1948 in Orange, Texas to Sherill Franklin and Ruby Franklin and passed away November 4, 2016 in Littleton, Colorado. In his adult years he enjoyed being part of the church choir and music quartets.  He attended Lamar University working toward a degree in Music and Sociology when he met the love of his life and they were married September 3rd, 1971. This year they celebrated 45 years of marriage. In January 1971 he joined the United States Marine Corp Reserves to serve his beautiful country; he loved so much.   Ken’s family meant the world to him, his wife Christie, son Robert, daughter Julie and son in law, Michael; grandchildren, Lauren, Brooke, Jonathan, and Sarah. The highest points of his life were when his two children and each grandchild were born.   His Franklin and Downing family cousins were a special part of his life.  He had a passion for downhill snow skiing with his “group of ski buddies”, skiing with his son and daughter and teaching his four grandchildren to ski at a young age. In addition, he enjoyed horseback riding his entire life especially in recent years in Durango with his children and grandchildren. He also enjoyed hiking in the mountains, taking jeeps in the high country, boating on the lake, working outside in the yard and being with his wife and family. In recent years he had many special gatherings with family and friends at his Durango home, ChrisKen Hermosa Orchard. Additionally, He had a   passion for finding and caring for rescue dogs. He saved and loved two special rescue dogs Ben and Bo who are still members of our family today. In the early years of their marriage Ken and Christie had always dreamed of living in the Durango Co area in the mountains!.  This dream came true in 2012 as they frequently said it’s truly heaven on earth here in Durango.   Most of all he truly enjoyed his life to the fullest. He was so full of love, kindness, guidance, friendship and faith. He lived his life loving Jesus Christ and working to live a life that was pleasing to Him.  In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made in memory of Ken to the Southeast Texas Veterans Group, P.O. Box 12352 Beaumont, Texas 77726, the Marine Corp League, P.O. Box 1679, Groves, TX 77619   or the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, OK 73123 or by visiting their webpage at www.cancer.org.