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.)

Gilley Infant

Graveside services for Chloe Jean Gilley, infant, of Frankston were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 2, at Dean Cemetery with Brother Calvin Jones officiating under direction of Memorial Funeral Home of Tyler.

The infant was born and died March 27.

Survivors include her parents, Clyde and Heather Gilley of Frankston; brothers, Danny Cole Plummer, Ethan Lafayette Gilley and Rickie Clyde Gilley, all of Frankston; grandparents, Clyde L. Gilley of Tyler, Betty Williamson of Nacogdoches, Rickie and Saleen Hearon and Anita Hearon, all of Lindale; four aunts, one uncle and seven cousins.

Newlon I. Rounsavall

Funeral services for Newlon I. Rounsavall, 78, of the New York-Leagueville Community, were held at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 29, at New York Baptist Church with Brothers Jack Mills and C.O. Jackson Jr. officiating.

Burial was in New York Cemetery under direction of Foster & Brown Funeral Home, Athens.

Mr. Rounsavall died Thursday, March 27, in Tyler.

He was born Nov. 21, 1924, in Leagueville to the late W.H. “Buster” and Myrtie Mae Ross Rounsavall. Mr. Rounsavall graduated from LaPoynor High School and attended Federal Institute College of Tyler. He served in the armed forces during World War II, and retired as a street superintendent from the City of Athens. Mr. Rounsavall was a member of New York Baptist Church, a 52-year member of Athens Masonic Lodge No. 165, Waco Scottish Rite and past worthy patron of Athens Order of Eastern Star.

He was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Talina Rounsavall; and a brother, Harold Rounsavall.

Survivors include his wife, Geri Powell Rounsavall; two daughters and sons-in-laws, Debra and Mark Mulholland, and Melissa and Jerry Willingham; two sons and daughter-in-law, Johnny and Julie Rounsavall and Tony Rounsavall; grandchildren, Heath Willingham, Chad and Kristi Willingham, Larry Willingham, Tamica and J.T. Collard, Bryce Rounsavall, Jenny Rounsavall and Joyce Rounsavall; great-grandchildren, Cheyene Collard, Jasmine Willingham, and Faith Willingham; brothers, W.A. “Bill” and A.B. Rounsavall; sisters, Mary Edwards and Juanita “Buck” Wallace; sister-in-law, Margaret “Loe” Rounsavall; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of special friends.

Pallbearers were Dewey Reynolds, Bud Willingham, Ken Vest, Elton Gracie, Dewey Shaw and Jack Reynolds.

If desired, memorials may be made to the Jack Mills Evangelist Assn.

Lottie Grants Chapin

The Celebration of Life for Lottie Grants Chapin, 82, was held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, April 8, at the Sardis Cemetery with Rev. James Wilcox and Rev. Cole Phillips officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Wayne Boze Funeral Home in Waxahachie.

Mrs. Chapin died Sunday, April 5, at the Claystone Rehabilitation Center in Ennis.

She was born in Stringtowne on Jan. 16, 1920 to Patrick and Bessie McNeil McKinney.

She was a member of the South Prong Baptist Church and was a dedicated pianist at her churches in Oklahoma.

Mrs. Chapin is survived by one son, Mark Grants of Frankston; daughters and sons-in-law, Neta Granger of Ennis, Irene and Chuck Goocher of Frankston, Kathy and James Wilcox of Waxahachie; a sister, Pauline Haygood of Washington; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Frank Grants in 1967; and one son, Alvin Louis Grants.

Memorials may be made to the South Prong Baptist Church Building Fund.

Mary Maxine Conner

Funeral services for Mary Maxine Conner, 74, of Canton are scheduled for Thursday, April 17, at 1 p.m. in Eubank Funeral Chapel in Canton with Rev. Roger Garbs and Rick Ivy officiating.

Burial was in Haven of Memories Memorial Park in Canton under direction of Eubank Funeral Home Inc. of Canton.

Mrs. Conner died Tuesday, April 15 in Tyler after a lengthy illness.

She was born August 11, 1928 in Frankston, daughter of James Simmons and Bertha Elma Loflin White.

Mrs. Conner grew up in Frankston where she met and married Gale Conner. In 1950 they moved to Dollarhide, and after 10 years they went to Jal, New Mexico, where they lived for 16 years. In 1976 they returned to Texas, settling in Van Zandt County.

She had been a member of Moore United Methodist Church since 1976.

Survivors include her husband, Gordon Gale Conner of Canton; a son and daughter-in-law, Jack and Jeanne Conner of Canton; a daughter and son-in-law, Debbie and Smith Satterwhite of Pittsburgh; two granddaughters, Mary Kathrine Satterwhite of Pittsburgh and Shawna Conner of Muskogee, Okla.

Jessie Huffman Appleby

Memorial services for Jessie Huffman Appleby, 88, of Frankston were held Monday, April 21, at 6 p.m. at HillTop Baptist Church in Frankston with Rev. Ron Ivy officiating.

Arrangements were under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home in Frankston.

Mrs. Appleby died Saturday, April 19 in a Tyler hospice home place.

She was born March 31, 1915 in Cherokee County. Mrs. Appleby was a retired LVN and a member of HillTop Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by spouses Braxton Wolf in 1959 and Frank Huffman in 1987.

Survivors include nieces Karen Banks of Raleigh, N.C., Sally Wolf of Charlmette, La., and Davie Lloyd of Richardson; a cousin, Ms. Marian Petty of San Antonio; step children, Nancy Llehr of Baltimore, Md., Frank Huffman Sr. of Pennsylvania., Shirley Appleby and Joan Brewer, both of West Virginia, Lois Greenleaf and Harold Appleby, both of Florida, and David Appleby of Kansas.

Kevin Earl Grayson

Funeral services for Kevin Earl Grayson, 31, of Poynor were held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, in the Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with Roland Alsobrook officiating.

Burial was in the Poynor Cemetery under direction of Thompson Funeral Home.

Mr. Grayson died Sunday, April 20, in Tyler.

He was born Aug. 24, 1971 in Palestine. Mr. Grayson was self employed with Grayson Tree Service. He was a member of LaPoynor Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, Rebecca Grayson of Poynor; a daughter, Megan Elizabeth of Poynor; parents, Thomas and Lois Grayson of Poynor; grandparents, Thomas Edison Gardiner of Palestine, Lloyd A. and Ruby M. Grayson of Poynor; brothers and sisters-in-law, Thomas Lloyd Jr. and Angela Grayson, and Nathan Ray and Angela Grayson, all of Poynor; sister and brother-in-law, Anita Genett and Eddie Watts of Poynor; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Thomas Grayson, Nathan Grayson, Chris Fondy, Derek Fondy, Mike Mann and Mike Mann.

Honorary pallbearers were Phillip Lee and Eddie Watts.

Scott Jones

Funeral services for Scott Jones, 39, of Frankston were held at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 24, in the Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with Rev. David Franklin officiating.

Burial was in the Poynor Cemetery.

Mr. Jones died Monday, April 21, at his residence.

He was born Aug. 20, 1963 in Tyler.

Mr. Jones was meat market manager at Jerry’s Foods in Hawkins. He was a member of the Frankston Church of Christ.

Survivors include his wife, Deborah Jones of Frankston; his parents, Jerry D. and Dianne Jones of Hawkins; parents-in-law, Preston and Fayrene Dickerson of Frankston; brother and sister-in-law, Stephen D. and Lori Jones of Tyler; brothers-in-law and spouses, Jimmy and Alana Moore, and Robert and Lynn Dickerson, all of Frankston; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Steve Alan Mascorro, Junior Mascorro, Carl House, Johnny Wheeler, Joe Hicks, Scott Holcombe, Danny Butcher, Dwayne Graham, Randy Berry and Stoney Burk.

Kathy Ross

Funeral services for Kathy Ross, 45, of Tyler, were held at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 12, at Mount Olive Baptist Church of Frankston with the Rev. Lonnie Ross officiating.

Burial was in Mount Olive Cemetery under direction of John R. Harmon Undertaking Co., Tyler.

Mrs. Ross died Tuesday, April 8, in a Tyler hospital.

She was born March 8, 1958, in Cherokee County and attended Frankston High School. She lived in Smith County for 21 years and was a health care provider and a member of Mount Sinai Baptist Church.

Mrs. Ross was preceded in death by her grandmother and a grandchild.

Survivors include sons, Phillip Ross and Christopher Ross, both of Tyler; daughters, Nicole Pierce of Tyler, and Zandra Pierce Platt of Frankston; her mother, Ella Woods of Tyler; her father, Oscar Burks of Frankston; brothers, James Burks of Tyler, and Terry Clark of New York; and 11 grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Frederick Woods, Earl Fields, Kevin Seward, Preston Seaton, Bobby Ross and Kenny Yepps.

Honorary pallbearers were Kevin Davis, Wilmon Davis Jr., Jimmy Woods, Henry Woods, Lonnie Woods, Floyd Woods, Joe L. Burks and James W. Burks.

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