SFC Christopher Shawn Franks, age 44 of Northport, formerly of Winfield, passed away on Thursday, July 6, 2017, at Hospice of West Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Shawn grew up in Winfield and was a 1990 graduate of Winfield City High School.  He joined the National Guard in 1991 and later transferred to the Army Reserves.  He was an active and faithful member of Capstone Church in Tuscaloosa.  He was employed with 3M from 1993-2004 and with Mercedes Benz from 2004-2017.  During his service for his country, Shawn earned many medals, including, but not limited to, The Bronze Star, Army Good Conduct Medal, 2 National Defense Service Medals, Combat Action Badge, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, 3 Army Service Ribbons, Sharpshooter Qualification Badge with Rifle Bar and Expert Marksmanship Badge, Overseas Service Ribbon, and Armed Forces Reserve Medals. 

He was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia Youngblood Capps; his grandparents, Ray Youngblood and Mary Ruth Pender Youngblood, Eugene Franks and Bessie Chambless Franks; and father in law, Charles Howell.  Shawn is survived by his wife of almost 25 years, Luann Howell Franks; his children, Caleb, Seth and Grace Franks; father, Ron (Doris) Franks; brothers, Jason (Nicole) Franks, Matt (Sheila) Franks; mother in law, Ava Jones; and a host of aunts, uncles and other relatives, friends and church family.    

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, July 9, 2017 at Capstone Church on University Blvd. in Tuscaloosa.  The body will lie in state from 2:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. (service time) on Sunday at the Church. A visitation will be held from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.  Burial will be in Sunset Cemetery on Watermelon Rd. in Northport.    Bowen Funeral Home of Winfield is serving the Franks family.