Memorial Mass for Joe Franey, 84, of Cullman, will be Monday, August 19, 2024 at 10 a.m., at St. Bernard Abbey; Abbott Marcus Voss presiding.
Mr. Franey was born July 8, 1940, to Joseph and Wilma Sherwood Franey. He passed away at his residence on August 17, 2024.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Sharon Franey.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Franey; son, Buddy (Tammy) Franey; daughters, Tress (Mel) Bailey and Kara Franey; grandchildren, Calie (Tyler) Franklin, Lucas Bailey, Brandon (Cecily) Miner, Joseph (Tess) Franey and Tucker (Lena) Franey; great grandchildren, Eleanor and Ivey Franklin, and Wood, Cross, Paislee, and Willa Grace Miner, sisters Rosemary Wigger and Betty Drury.
Joe was known for many things. Some may remember him as an incredible basketball player where he was the leading scorer for Catholic High School in Memphis TN and was All City. He met his future wife Betty at a high school basketball game in Nashville, TN. His athletic ability earned him a scholarship to St. Bernard College in Cullman Alabama where he was a star basketball player. After graduating from St. Bernard he pursued his Masters Degree in Education at Peabody in Nashville. He returned to Cullman with his wife Betty to coach the first soccer team in Alabama at St. Bernard College. His coaching career expanded at St. Bernard as he became the basketball and golf coach. In 1971 the St. Bernard golf team won the NAIA tournament.
In 1977, he joined his best friend Mike Knight to work at R.E. Garrison Trucking Company. Roy Garrison was an incredible mentor to Joe and helped him to learn the business that he and Mike would eventually own. Joe loved golf and he continued to pursue his love of the sport as he and Betty moved to Destin Florida.
He was known for his ribs – if you have ever had them then you know. As the Franey family grew, “Coach” became known as “Papa” to his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was “Uncle Joe” to a host of nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flower the family requests donations to either charity:
Greagath-Franey Memorial Fund
C/O DHR Cullman
PO Box 990
Cullman, AL 35056
ECCAC – Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center
PO Box 1237 Niceville, Florida 32588
C/O: Julie Sacco Porterfield
