Herschel Franklin, 95, Harrisonville, Missouri, died Monday, February 23, 2015 at his home. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, February 26, 2015 at the Atkinson Funeral Home in Harrisonville, with visitation from 2:00-3:00 p.m. Burial will be in Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Pleasant Hill, Missouri. Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society.

Herschel was born June 19, 1919 in McFall, Missouri in Harrison County, the son of Renard "Jack" and Cassie May (Chipp) Franklin. He was a 1937 graduate of Hugoton Kansas High School. He married Ella Marie Smith on June 5, 1940 in Warrensburg, Missouri. They lived in Pleasant Hill, Missouri before moving to Harrisonville in 1947.

In Harrisonville Herschel owned and operated the Texaco Oil Distributorship and later built and owned the Champion station at Highway 2 and Commercial in Harrisonville. After selling the Champion station, he was a project manager for Vendo Corporation.

He served as an alderman on the Harrisonville City Council for 16 years and on the Harrisonville School Board from 1960-1964. He was a 75-year member of the Cass Masonic Lodge No. 147, Harrisonville. He was a member of the First Christian Church in Harrisonville. Herschel was also a certified BBQ judge for the Kansas City BBQ Society and judged at the American Royal.

Herschel was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, two brothers, and his wife, Marie, on November 16, 1996. He is survived by one son, Jim Franklin and wife, Judy, Harrisonville, Missouri; one daughter, Sandra Jean Barnes, Clearwater, Florida; 6 grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren.