FRANCO, Carlos Ytuarte

Parker Pioneer, Parker, AZ - Carlos Y. Franco Nov. 3, 1948 - Nov. 7, 2011 Carlos Ytuarte Franco was born in El Paso, Texas, Nov. 3, 1948, to Candelario and Juanita Franco. Carlos passed away in Las Vegas, Nov. 7, 2011, from respiratory failure. In 1951, Juanita moved to Parker, Ariz., with her three kids, Carlos, Endina and Ernie, to start a new life. While in Parker, Juanita met Bill Burns and started a new life together and raised three kids. Later they had three more kids��”Bill, Helen and Bobby Burns. Growing up, Carlos attended school in the Parker area up to 11th grade and left for Job Corps. After finishing Job Corps, he got drafted to the Army. When done with boot camp training, he was sent to Vietnam 1967 to 1969 in the 101st Airborne. After the Vietnam War, Carlos came home and attended cooking school in Bakersfield, Calif., where he learned to cook a lot of different kinds of food. After cooking school, Carlos headed back to Parker and worked different cooking jobs around the Parker area. Carlos was known for his chili and good food. He was also sponsored by local bars around the Parker area to be in chili cook-offs and placed first and second every time he entered the contest. On March 8, 2003, Carlos married Summer Windsong Harper-Aspa. They started their new life together in Parker. In July 2003, Carlos and Summer moved to Hawthorne to live and be closer to his sister and brother-in-law, Endina and Lloyd Brown. Carlos made his way around in Hawthorne on his red scooter going to the bars and casino to talk and kick back with friends and have a couple of cold ones. In May 2009, Carlos cooked in his first chili cook-off in Hawthorne on Armed Forces Day and placed second. In July Carlos and Summer went to Parker for a vacation to be with family and friends plus enjoy the hot weather and swim in the river. On July 11, Carlos got very sick and was sent to Sunrise Hospital in Las Vegas, Nev. In September Carlos started to get better and was sent to Kindred Hospital to start physical therapy. On Oct. 29 Carlos was rushed to the emergency room at Kindred Hospital, then to Desert Spring Hospital for heart and breathing problems. On Nov. 7, Carlos Franco passed away peacefully with family by his side. Carlos is survived by father, Candelario Franco, of El Paso; mother, Juanita Burns, of Parker; brothers, Billy Burns and Ernie Franco, of Parker; Candelario Franco Jr. and Rudy Franco, of San Jose, Calif.; David Franco, of El Paso; sisters, Helen (Brian) Walker, of Corona, Calif.; Beatriz, Rita, Leticia and Delia Franco, of El Paso; wife Summer Franco, of Hawthorne, Nev.; son, Mark Haynes, of New Mexico; grandson, Vicente Prieto, of Parker; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and all of his dear friends. Carlos was preceded in death by his step-father Bill Burns; brother Bobby Burns; sister Endina Brown, as well as many other family members.