Delores Ann Barrow Crabtree Franks, born Sept. 15, 1936, in Fields, crossed over to her Heavenly Home on Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, in Lake Charles.
She is survived by her daughters, Pamela Crabtree Pruitt (Billy), Tanya Crabtree Welch, and Melonie Crabtree Farber (Markle); grandchildren, Sommer Moosman (Colby), Kindall Pruitt (Jessica), Autumn Welch, Drew Pruitt, Bethanie Whalley (Elijah), and Callie Farber; great-grandchildren, Skyler Moosman (Sarah), Stella Moosman, Kelvin Welch, Silas Moosman, LT Pruitt, Jackson Pruitt, Noah Pruitt, Sadie Moosman, London Pruitt, Seven Moosman, Della Welch, and Brooklyn Pruitt; and siblings; Irma Beatrice Rumby, and Sandy Barrow Verdine.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel R. and Bessie Scissom Barrow; her first husband of 51 years, Melvin Ray Crabtree; and her second husband of six years, James Ray Franks, Sr.; eight of her 10 siblings, Sam Junior Barrow, Catherine Bickham, Alma Barrow, Jerry Barrow, Linda Beard, Evelyn Smith, Weyland Barrow, and JH Barrow.
She is a 1954 Hyatt High School Graduate and attended McNeese State University. Delores began her working career at the Gulf National Bank in downtown Lake Charles for 14 years, working her way up from Teller to Executive Administration. In 1969, upon moving back to the Barrow Homestead in Fields, she began working in the Timber, Sawmill, Lumber, and Paper Industry, beginning at the General Box Company and later transferring to the Boise Southern Forest Products locations in DeQuincy and then to the Boise Cascade Paper Mill in DeRidder working in numerous administration positions until she found her dream job in the Human Resources Department, where she stayed until her retirement of 30 years in total.
She is a born-again Christian and surrendered her life to Christ at an early age and actively served in many local church positions beginning at the Twelfth Street Baptist Church in Lake Charles, the Starks First Baptist, Gambrell Baptist, Deweyville First Baptist, and then attending the Church of Christ in DeQuincy with her second husband, James Ray Franks, Sr.
Delores felt that community service was important and served as a Board Member and President for the Singer Water District #2, the Beauregard Parish Library, and the Hyatt High School Alumni Association. She would always be found supporting school sporting events by working the score clock at home basketball games. She traveled to many away ball games following her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren’s games in whatever was their current sport.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Kindall Pruitt, Drew Pruitt; great-grandsons, Kelvin Welch, LT Pruitt, Jack Pruitt, Noah Pruitt; and honorary, Skyler Moosman, Silas Moosman.
The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. until time for the funeral service at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31, at Riley Smith & Sons Funeral Home in DeQuincy. Burial will be immediately following the service at the Barrow Family Cemetery, 392 Sam Barrow Road in Fields.
Arrangements are being handled by Riley Smith & Sons Funeral, 1810 W. Fourth St., DeQuincy.
(Paid Memorial)
