Joan Franks

Joan Loope Franks, resident of Chattanooga, passed away on Tuesday, April 9, 2013, in Mobile, Ala.She was preceded in death by her parents, G. Dewey Loope and Eunice G. Hopper, of White Pine, Tenn.Mrs. Franks is survived by her daughter, Ramona Hagmaier (Jason), of Mobile; her granddaughter, Megan Michelle Hagmaier; a brother, Edward Loope (Nancy), of Knoxville, Tenn.; and four nephews, Michael D. Loope, of Louisville, Tenn., John F. Loope, and Stephen D. Loope, of Knoxville, and Andrew E. Loope, of Franklin, Tenn.Mrs. Franks, an avid historian, is remembered for her passion for the preservation of the Cherokee heritage and for her love of Tennessee history, along with her dedication to instill in her students the importance of history in our society.Mrs. Franks restored and preserved to its original state the John Browns Tavern built in 1803 near Chattanooga. Many of her ancestors were early Tennessee settlers, and she wove the past into her home which she furnished with hand-loomed rugs, hand- stenciled curtains, chairs with rush seats, and hand-made wooden furniture.She received her masters degree in education from the University of Chattanooga and received her undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She pursued doctoral studies at the University of Edinburg. Scotland, and American University in Washington, D.C.She served as head of library acquisitions as well as instructor of history at the University of Chattanooga She was also an instructor of history at Chattanooga State Community College.Mrs. Franks served her community in many ways. She served two five-year terms on the Tennessee Historical Commission. She was past president of the Chattanooga Audubon Society, the Chattanooga Area Historical Association (CAHA), Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, the Opti-Mrs. Club, and the Shakespeare Garden Club at the University of Chattanooga. She also served as vice president for both the Tennessee Historical Society and the East Tennessee Historical Society. She was a member and officer of the Chattanooga Regional History Museum, Chief John Ross Association, Chattanooga Historic Zoning Study Commission, and Ross Landing Park.Mrs. Franks was a member of Pilgrim Congregationalist Church Her hobbies included gardening, sewing, refurbishing furniture, freelance writing, entertaining and cooking. Pursuant to her wishes her body was donated to medical science.