Lola Iva Frans

Mrs. Lola Iva Newcomb Frans, 79, passed away at Three Rivers Nursing Home in Marked Tree. Lola was born in Tyronza AR on April 10, 1939 to the late Arlander & Mildred Newcomb. She attended school in Tyronza, achieving All Star status with the ladies Chiefs basketball team her Sr year. Lola moved with her family to Yuma AZ in the late spring of 1957. Since completing most of her senior year in the Tyronza School District, she was allowed to receive her High School diploma from there, even though she participated in the commencement ceremony at Yuma High. She often laughed during the ceremony, she was given a note stating “diploma is in the mail” instead of her actual diploma. Lola met Doug Frans that spring in Yuma Arizona. Doug was also born and raised near Tyronza. Even though they knew of each other’s families, the two had never met prior to meeting in Yuma. Lola and Doug wed on June 1st, 1957. The young couple started a family and had four sons and one daughter. In the early 70s Lola and her family moved back to their home town area and resided in Marked Tree Arkansas. Lola worked in the accounting office for the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis TN until December of 1975. After a lengthy recovery from a near fatal car wreck in 1975, Lola worked alongside her husband farming in Marked Tree. After retiring from farming, Lola and Doug enjoyed traveling in their RV with their poodles. They visited nearly all 50 states during retirement and did not see an Arkansas frost in over 10 years. Lola beautifully landscaped their RV lot in the Foothills of Arizona where they spent many winters among extended family and a community of new friends. When Doug’s health began to decline, they sold their property in Yuma and moved back to Arkansas full time. They split their remaining years between their home in Marked Tree and their farm in Cord Arkansas where they raised miniature horses, a great pyrenees and one donkey. Lola was a member of The Order of The Eastern Star and served as the Grand Matron in 1976. She was also a member of the First Baptist Church of Marked Tree. Lola enjoyed gardening and was the green thumb of the family. She volunteered for various community projects and really enjoyed working at the polls during elections. Lola loved her husband and her family with her whole heart and set a wonderful example of a Christian woman. She was preceded in death by her parents, two siblings, Kenneth Newcomb and Becki Deziel. Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Byron Douglas Frans Sr of the home, four sons, Doug Frans Jr (Dawn) of Tyronza, Gary Frans of Los Angeles CA, Joe Frans (Mary) of Cord, Franky Frans (Vicki) of Marked Tree and one daughter Cathy Frans of Jonesboro and three siblings, Marie Cook, Joyce Wiles and Thomas Newcomb. She had nine grandchildren; Kagni Fisher, Jordan Duncan, Alex Frans, Zach Frans, Tyler Frans DVM, James Frans, Kasey Dunavant, Anthony Brown, Aaron Clark and 12 great grandchildren. Visitation will be 2pm Monday July 9th at the First Baptist Church in Marked Tree with the celebration of her life immediately following. Lola will be laid to rest at the Tyronza cemetery. Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers.