Frankston Area Obituaries — 1999-Present

Here are the obituaries posted for the current month from information provided courtesy of local and area funeral homes and published on their websites or those submitted by families. If an obituary is overlooked and it is desired that it be posted, please inform us at frankstondepotlibrary@gmail.com . Families may request changes or additions, if required. If you have an obituary for a person who has connections with someone or some family in the Frankston-Poynor-LaRue or Lake Palestine area that you want posted to this month or to the archives, and is not currently posted, please let us know at frankstondepotlibrary@gmail.com . Obituaries selected or submitted should follow a format which is essentially consistent with other obituaries posted here or by funeral homes and follow standard grammatical style. Through arrangements with funeral homes and/or the families, we will publish pictures with current obituaries. We will add pictures to archived obituaries from the print version of The Citizen newspaper prior to September 2019 when available. Pictures with archived obituaries posted after that will be added in cooperation with funeral homes or on requests from families.  As was the tradition of the Citizen newspaper, obituaries are published at no charge.

(Obituaries listed chronologically by date of death or funeral service.)

Sam Pat Thompson, Jr.

Funeral services for Sam Pat Thompson Jr., 97, of Frankston, were held Saturday, August 29, 2015, at First Baptist Church of Frankston with the Rev. Scott Wiley officiating.

Interment was at Frankston City Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Autry Funeral Home, Frankston.

Mr. Thompson passed away Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2015, in Jacksonville.

He was born March 13, 1918, in Jacksonville to Lizzie and Sam Thompson, Sr.

Sam was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Frankston. He was an avid Dallas Cowboys fan and retired from Exxon Mobil Corp.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife of 45 years Sudie Thompson; and one brother, Braly Thompson.

Survivors include his daughter Nancy Birchett and husband Joe of Frankston; brother Loran Thompson of Tyler; three granddaughters Joann Adams, Jill Wheeler and husband Kevin, Jessica Meeks and husband Chris; six great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Rather than customary condolences, memorials may be made to Cal Farley Boys Ranch at www.calfarley.org or St. Jude Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105.

Nina Jane Dougherty

Nina Jane Dougherty passed away on Aug. 27, 2015.

She was born March 1, 1956, to Raymond E. and Jennie E. Dougherty in Boone, Iowa.

She worked for the Frankston School District for 19 years.

Ms. Dougherty was preceded in death by her mother and father; a sister, Connie; and two nephews.

She is survived by her daughter Emilie Wooten and husband Jimbo; granddaughter Lailah Jayne Wooten; sister and brother-in-law Lynda and Chuck Jones; brother and sister-in-law Jack and Glenda Dougherty and many nieces and nephews and many more friends.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Donations and memorials may be made to Hospice of East Texas in Tyler.

Evelyn Wells

Funeral services for Evelyn Wells, 83, of Frankston, were held Wednesday August 26, 2015, at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with the Rev. Scott Wiley officiating.

She was laid to rest in the Frankston City Cemetery.

Evelyn passed away in Frankston on Saturday August 22, 2015. She was born May 11, 1932, in Frankston to Lee and Nellie Ellis. Evelyn was a homemaker.

Family that preceded her in death are her husband; Leslie “Les” Wells, her parents and sisters; Lena Mae Rolison and Nellie Peele.

She leaves to cherish her memory, a daughter Ja Nell Morris and husband Jimmie of Frankston; a son William Lee Wells and wife Terri of Centerville. She is also survived by two sisters, Lois Wisnoski of Palestine and Pat Baird and husband Bobby of Tennessee Colony. Evelyn has two grandchildren, Jeffery Morris and Jeanette Lehman; two great grandchildren, Dillon Morris and Skylyn Wells and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were the deacons of First Baptist Church of Frankston.

Durwood Campbell

Funeral services for Durwood Campbell, 78, of Frankston, were held Monday, Sept. 14, 2015, at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with J.A. Griffin officiating.

Interment was at Liberty Hill Cemetery in Frankston.

Mr. Campbell passed away Thursday, Sept. 10, 2015, in Tyler.

He was born Oct. 20, 1936, in Frankston to Jewel Cook and W.A. Campbell.

Durwood moved here from Tennessee in the 70’s where he worked for Carrier Corp. He retired from Frankston Box Factory after more than 27 years. He was a member of First Assembly of God in Frankston.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife Catherine Campbell; second wife Billie Maxine Campbell; son Robert Wayne Campbell; sisters Bernice Ruff, Margie Burts; and brother Earl Campbell.

Survivors include his daughters Carol Steiger and husband Michael of New Jersey, Cynthia Hill and husband Tony of Jacksonville; stepdaughters Carolyn Grubbs and husband Dave, Judy Crawford, Kathy Avery, Bett Rickard and husband Jeff of LaPoynor; sisters Evie Alice Rann of Dallas, JoAnn Ivey of Frankston, Betty Irving and husband Dale, Linda Warkentin and husband Jim, all of Okla.; brother Charles Campbell of Frankston; granddaughters Sophia Whittfield and husband Brandon, Tiffany Newton and husband Jerry, Cassie Vasseur and husband Malcolm, Ashley Hall and husband Ronny; 10 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were his grandsons-in-law.

  Edward ‘Eddie’ Ray Grubbs

A memorial service for Edward Ray Grubbs (Eddie), 58, of Frankston was held Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, at Hilltop Baptist Church in Berryville with Brother George Folmar officiating.

Eddie passed away Sept. 4, 2015, to be with the Lord. Eddie was born June 11, 1957, to his beloved parents Wilson Grubbs, father, and LaVerne Grubbs, mother.

Eddie was a great fan of the Texas Rangers and the Dallas Cowboys and dearly loved NASCAR racing.

Eddie was great at anything he attempted to take on.

He is survived by his sister Shirley Nolen and brother-in-law David of Frankston; his brother Curtis Grubbs of Coffee City; his twin sister Debra Harrell and brother-in-law David of Frankston.

He also had several nieces and nephews and many great nieces and nephews.

Friends and family were invited to celebrate this new life for Eddie.

(Obituaries posted contain information posted by funeral homes and/or families. Families may request changes or additions, if appropriate or required.).