Frankie Owen SoRelle, Jr.

Frankie Owen SoRelle, Jr. passed from this life surrounded by his family on March 24, 2018.

Visitation for friends and family will be held at the Trinity Baptist Church Family Life Center on Wednesday, March 28, 2018 at l:00 P.M., with a Celebration of Life Service following at 2:00 P.M., with Rev. Matt McGowen officiating. Burial will follow at Belvieu Cemetery in Rotan, Texas. Arrangements are under the direction of Cate-Spencer & Trent Funeral Home.

Frankie SoRelle, Jr. was born May 16, 1930 in Sweetwater, Texas. He grew up on the family ranch in Kent County. His grandfather, T.O. SoRelle and his mother, Ruth SoRelle had a profound influence on his childhood years. After graduating from Rotan High School, he continued to ranch with his grandfather. In 1952, he married the love of his life, Betty Jean Rogers. A proud and patriotic American, Frankie servied two years in the United States Army from 1953 to 1955. In 1958, they bought a ranch near the Brazos River in Kent County and raised their three children, Becky, Kenneth, and Frankie III there.

In 1971, the family moved to Sweetwater where Frankie started his own business, Foam Craft. He was instrumental in developing molds for casting and manufacturing decorative wall plaques. These were sold through Home Interiors & Gifts making him a successful entrepreneur. He also developed, patented, and built Geodesic Domes. The family home, or the "golf ball house" was the first dome built in Sweetwater with five others built in the West Texas area.

Frankie SoRelle, Jr. was a Baptist, lived a simple life, and was his own man. He embraced the western life and always had his own special way of achieving success. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, T.O. and Lillian SoRelle, mother, Ruth (Tuttle) SoRelle Saunders and a brother, Purvis SoRelle.

He is survived by his wife Betty of Sweetwater, one daughter, Becky SoRelle of Abilene, two sons, Kenneth SoRelle of Sweetwater, and Frankie III and wife Beverly SoRelle of Lubbock, and one sister Clara SoRelle Perry of Collinsville, Oklahoma. He leaves behind six grandchildren; Travis and wife Jessica SoRelle of Coalinga, California, Amy SoRelle of Victorville, California, Eric SoRelle of Dallas, Sarah and husband Jeff Wright of Houston, Emily SoRelle of Lubbock and Mark SoRelle and wife Pacifica of Austin, as well as, eleven great grandchildren, two great great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the Trinity Baptist Church Mission Fund or your local Dementia/Alzheimer organization.

Pallbearers will be Eric SoRelle, Larry Grissom, T.J. Wright, Dale Middleton, Chris Buff, and Casey Buff.

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