Stanley Franzoy

Stanley Dean Franzoy passed from his earthly home to his heavenly home, after a long-term illness, on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Those of us left behind are crying happy tears of joy knowing that Stanley is home with his loved ones who had gone before, but also crying tears of sorrow because of the huge hole that he has left in our hearts and our lives. We know that someday soon we will be with our Daddy and Grandpa again when our race is finished.

Stanley was born in Deming, New Mexico, on January 27, 1934. He was the baby of the family, lastborn of five children to Albert and Viola (Cantrell) Franzoy. He mainly grew up on his parent’s farm in Salem, New Mexico, and graduated from Hatch Valley High School. After graduation, he went to work for Mountain Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company. During his career, he was a lineman, repairman, and a PBX installer, working around the country wherever he was needed. He retired from Mountain Bell in 1982 at the age of 48 and started his own company, Central New Mexico Communications. He also got his Journeyman Electrician’s License and ran crews wiring subdivisions in Albuquerque.

Stanley married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Louise Johnston, in 1953. They had six children in eight years, beginning in 1954. He married Margie Choate Riggs in 1981. Margie had four children from her previous marriage. They were married for 39 years, until Margie’s death in 2021.

Stanley always had a love for growing things, whether it was a garden or kids. He always had a big garden and lawn wherever he lived. He and Margie raised kids, grandkids, and great-grandkids, until they were almost into their 80’s. They adopted one grandchild, Andy. Stanley had a passion for hunting, fishing, camping, and “seeing country.” When he lived in Las Cruces, he was a softball pitcher in both church and city leagues.

Stanley loved the Lord, had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior, and served as an elder in his home church at Bosque Farms Assembly of God. He had a servant’s heart and was very active in helping others. At family gatherings, after a large meal had been cooked and served by the women, he would run them all out of the kitchen saying that they had done enough, and lead the men to come in and clean up. He was a big, strong, working man with a huge grin and a deep, loud, boisterous laugh that he passed on too many of his children and grandchildren. He loved to pull pranks on friends and loved ones. He loved animals, always having one or two dogs, and bringing all kinds of wild animals home, including skunks, ground squirrels, and cottontail rabbits. At Stanley and Margie’s home, there was usually a lot of company, plenty to eat, and either a domino or card game in progress.

Stanley was preceded in death by his father and mother, siblings; Katherine Short, Albert Franzoy Jr., Edith Boggs, and James Franzoy; his son, David Franzoy, son-in-law, Ron Garcia, and stepdaughter, Sherry Vanderhyden. He is survived by his children; Alan (Deb) Franzoy, Karyn (Rudi) Schmidt, Suzy (Jimmy) Head, daughter-in-law, Christine Franzoy, Dianne Garcia, Laura (Neil) Roberson, and Andy Woolf; stepchildren, Wayne (Cynthia) Riggs, Rosetta (Larry) Jeter, Sue Riggs-Gower, and stepson-in-law, Tom Vanderhyden. His direct descendants include 6 children, 18 grandchildren, 39 great grandchildren, and 7 great-great grandchildren. In addition, he was also a loving Grandpa to 7 bonus grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

A graveside service for Stanley will be held on March 30th at the Garden of Memories in Hatch, NM at 10:00 a.m. Pall bearers are his grandsons; Caleb Franzoy, JW Sellars, Jeffrey Head, Zane Franzoy, Mike McDaniel, and Ryan Roberson. Following the service, family and friends will gather at Salem Baptist Church for a pot-luck fellowship meal. This will be a time to remember Stanley, swap stories, and enjoy fellowship.

Our family wants to sincerely thank the staff at The Adobe Assisted Living in Las Cruces for loving our Daddy. You are a blessing to us!