Francis Lee Corey Sr. (Frank), 76, of Frankston, Texas, peacefully passed away at home with his family by his side on Tuesday afternoon, May 14th, 2024. Funeral Services will be held on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, at Boren-Conner Funeral Home in Jacksonville, to begin at 2:00pm. A visitation will begin at 1:00pm prior to the service. Pastor Pete “Papa” Cavasoz will officiate the service. Interment will be at the Dallas National Cemetery.
Frank was born on September 27, 1947, in Paola, KS. Frank was a dedicated husband to his loving wife of 18 years Cindy Corey and a father of 7 children, He was a stalwart and deliberate man, a staunch American Patriot, a US Navy servicemen and a Vietnam War Veteran, possessing the deepest sense of love and loyalty to all his family and many life-long friends.
Frank was preceded in death by his late wife of 29 years Joyce Oleta Corey, parents Harvey Joe Corey, Pansy Iona Gibbs, his older brother Joesph Corey, younger sister Ann Marie Corey, son Ronald Corey Sr., daughter Misty Corey, and grandson Martin Corey Jr.
Frank is survived by his daughter Kathy Moore, son Frank Corey Jr., son Scott Corey and wife Ginger Corey, daughter Stacey Corey and fiancé Johnny Kramer, son Martin Corey, grandchildren Shaun Smith, Jaime Norton, Ronald Corey Jr., Brittnie Corey, Tyler Vestal, Tanner Vestal, Bryce Corey, Tiffany Goolsby and husband Colby, Steffany Corey and boyfriend Aeric Contreras, Kaleigh Haskell and husband Devin, Cameron Corey, Kinsey Corey, Abrianna Barnett, Christopher Barnett, Jacob Maley, Gunner Kramer, Jax Kramer, Harlie Corey, Gracie Corey, Ivorie Corey, Landon Corey and great grandchildren Grace Smith, Briella Spinelli, Evan King, Nolan Goolsby, Jace Arias, Katherine Haskell, Claire Haskell and many other nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family, and friends who were loved and cherished by Frank.
Honorary pallbearers will be: Scott William Corey, Francis Lee Corey Jr., Cisco Castillo, Jerry Bacot, Tyler Vestal, Martin Corey, Cameron Corey, and Landon Corey.
Frank served in the US Navy from 1965-1968, during the Vietnam War, where he was assigned to a Fighter Squadron aboard the USS Oriskany Air Craft Carrier in the South China Sea. He was a Purple Heart recipient, wounded during combat operations. Leaving the Navy honorably in 1968. He was a proud Vietnam War Veteran his entire life. He continued to serve his fellow military brothers in arms by joining and serving many roles in VFW Posts (Veterans of Foreign Wars) across Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Florida, including being elected as Post Commander, Sergeant in Arms, Quarter Master, and Post Adjutant multiple different terms over his more than 53 years of service within the VFW organization.
He entered law enforcement in 1971, being promoted to Under-Sheriff by 1979. He worked for multiple different Police Departments, County Sheriff’s offices in Texas and Kansas, including the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.
Upon leaving law enforcement to attend college full-time in 1980, Frank graduated with a degree in Criminal Justice and Law from University of Texas in 1984.
Frank returned to his Naval roots many times over the years, working in Aviation Inspection for Beechcraft, Cesana, Learjet, Bell Helicopter, and most notably for Boeing assigned with top secret clearance as a Final Assembly Inspector for their contract to build and replace both AirForce One airliners, from 1986-1988, which remain in service today and have flown every American President since 1990. Something he was always very proud of.
Additionally, Frank put his Inspection talents and integrity to work in the Petrochemical industry performing Inspection, Non-destructive Testing, Quality Assurance and Quality Control for Refineries and Chemical Plants all over the country until his retirement in 2013.
He was an avid pool shark, fisherman, hunter, outdoorsman, who loved the woods and the water, enjoying family gatherings of any kind, along with all the festivities of big cook-outs and barbecues. He proudly passed all these traditions on to his children who are all fairly well known amongst their own circles for their cooking and festivities.
Frank had a warm and contagious fun-loving spirit and boisterous personality and everyone always seemed to gravitate to him. And once he truly befriended someone, it really meant something to him and to you and you really knew it. A model that he insured was truly engrained in all of his children and his grandchildren. Watching them interact and foster their own relationships with their friends over the years is something that I know always made him very proud.
He will forever be remembered for his relentless devotion to his family, his warn loving nature, animated and contagious personality, his bold spirit of self-reliance, and the determination for building and living the life he wanted, the way he wanted, without regrets or apologizes.
Frank leaves behind an abundance of love, lots of wonderful and thrilling stories, and cherished memories in the hearts of all who were blessed to know him.
In Lieu of flowers the family requests donates to Tunnels to Towers.
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