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.)

Sue McSpadden

Funeral services for Sue McSpadden, 75, of Frankston, were held Monday, March 30, at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with Dr. David Dykes and Mike Parks officiating. Interment was at Frankston City Cemetery.

Mrs. McSpadden passed away Friday, March 27, 2015, in Frankston.

She was born November 26, 1939, in Terrell to Roland and Natalie Richie. She was a member of Green Acres Baptist Church in Tyler. For 20 years, Sue enjoyed singing soprano in the Celebration Choir, Senior Adult Choir, and the Traveling Choir at Green Acres.

She was lead key-punch operator for Columbia Gulf Transmission Co. in the oil and gas industry. Sue was also employed by Arkansas Farm Bureau in Little Rock, Arkansas, for ten years prior to moving to Texas.

She was preceded in death by her parents and a sister, Barbara Richie.

Survivors include her husband of 46 years, E. M. “Mac” McSpadden of Frankston; sons Jerry McSpadden and wife Linda of Houston, Tom McSpadden and wife Patti of Skitook, Oklahoma; granddaughters Michelle, Jillian, Victoria, Andee, and Camille; great grandchildren Nicole, Eloise, Blake, Olivia, Dahlia, Braden, Aubrelle, and Elias; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Jerry McSpadden, Tom McSpadden and members of her family.

Rather than customary condolences, memorials in memory of Sue can be made to Green Acres Baptist Church Choir, 1607 Troup Hwy. in Tyler.

Billy Wayne Ford

Funeral services for Billy Wayne Ford, 67, of Maydelle, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, April 10, 2015, at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Jacksonville with Paul Gates officiating. Interment will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Rusk.

Mr. Ford passed away Sunday, April 5, 2015, at his home.

He was born March 16, 1948, in Rusk to Jack and Adelle Ford.

Billy worked for Bill Henderson Logging Company.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son Billy Wayne Ford, Jr.; sisters Mildred Gray, Nellie Morgan, Barbara Gilmore, and Betty McAllister.

Survivors include his daughters Cindy and Bill Henderson of Frankston, Stephanie and Donnie Munsinger of Maydelle, Paula and Billy Stansberry of Killeen; brother Jerry Ford and wife Barbara of Dialville; grandchildren Aaron and wife Holli Henderson, Erika and Zac Henderson, Adrian and Kelsey King, Amanda and Coby Sword and Amber Munsinger; great-grandkids Tucker Henderson, Briley Henderson, Kloey Sword and Donavon Baker; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Chris Henderson, Kelly Saunders, Donnie Munsinger, Coby Sword, Harold (Homer) Glover and Shawn Crockett.

Honorary pallbearer will be Matthew McAllister.

Visitation will begin on Thursday, April 9, 2015, with family receiving friends from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville.

Sue Whitesides

Graveside services for Sue Whitesides, 70, of Frankston, were held Friday, April 10, 2015, at Union Grove Cemetery near Troup with the Rev. Steve Edwards officiating. Services were under the direction of Autry Funeral Home in Frankston.

Mrs. Whitesides passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2015, in Tyler.

She was born May 27, 1944, in Houston to Billy and Mary Christensen.

Sue crocheted hats for homeless persons and for veterans who served in Afghanistan.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Survivors include her husband of 51 years Lemoyne Whitesides of Frankston; sons Don Whitesides of Gunison, Colorado, and Fred Whitesides of Conroe; brother Don Christensen of Cotter, Arkansas; sister Peggy Atkinson of Dobbin, Texas; four grandchildren Wesley, Amanda, Emily and Raegan; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were grandchildren, nephews, and brothers-in-law. Honorary pallbearers were Raegan and Emily.

Ara Jane Brown

Services for Ara Jane Brown, 103, of Alba, are scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, April 19, 2015, at Wilson-Bartley Funeral Home chapel, Alba, with George Filpansick officiating.

Burial will be in Turner Cemetery, Emory.

Mrs. Brown passed away Monday, April 13, 2015, in a Quitman hospital.

She was born Jan. 1, 1912, in Rains County, to the late Edward Zachariah and Sadie Idelia Hall Hutchins. She married Horace David Brown, Sr. on Oct. 17, 1931, in Rains County.

She worked at M.L. Leddy in San Angelo where she made boots and as a seamstress at Fame Fashions in Dallas in the clothing industry. She lived most of her life in Dallas moving to the Alba area in 1977. She was a homemaker and member of Alba Church of Christ.

Survivors include 3 grandchildren, David Wayne Brown and wife Angela of Frankston, Bryan Christopher Brown and wife Robyn of Lumberton, Mississippi, and Debbie Allman and husband Rex of Victoria; 5 great-grandchildren, Brandi Harris, Dawn Michelle Bishop, Ashlee Mikesell, Amber Brown, and Emily Jane Brown; 3 great-great grandchildren, Jessica McManus, Jeremy McManus, and Ella Mikesell; brothers, Edward Denton Hutchins and wife Elizabeth of Emory, Mack Hutchins and Johnnie Hutchins both of Alba; sister, Ola Morgan of Crowley; special family friend, Mae Lindsey; numerous other relatives and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sisters, Mable Eads, Bonnie Eads, and Zora “Trixie” McKenzie; son, H.D. Brown, Jr.

Visitation will be at the funeral home Saturday 6-8 p.m.

Dorothy Jean Henderson

Dorothy Jean Henderson went to be with the Lord on April 11, 2015, at the age of 81.

She was born April 6, 1934, in the Hollywood Community which lies between Frankston and Neches on FM 19.

She attended Frankston and Gilmer schools and lived the majority of her adult life in San Antonio.

She was a born again Christian and a member of Faith Missionary Baptist Church in San Antonio.

Her ministry was music and she sang for many years in a Gospel band where she blessed others both in person and on the radio.

Family and friends remember Dorothy’s beautiful alto voice.

Her favorite song was The Old Rugged Cross.

Mrs. Henderson was preceded in death by her husband Wesley “Brownie” Henderson, her daughter Lorita Gale Clymer, parents John Lee and Jesse Mae Posey and her siblings Judy Posey, J. W. Posey and Lavonne Baca.

She is survived by her grandchildren Tearanie Kennedy and her husband Jonathan, Michael Wesley Clymer and his wife Brandi; great grandchildren Kaylie Kennedy, Briana Kennedy, Michael Edmond Clymer and Lillianna Clymer; siblings Evelyn Derossett, Calvin Posey and Daphnese “Betty” Mewbourn; and many nieces and nephews.

Services for Mrs. Henderson were held at Faith Missionary Baptist Church on Friday, April 17, 2015, with Pastor Doyle Warnell officiating.

Interment was at Sunset Memorial Park in San Antonio.

James L. Terry

Funeral services for James L. Terry, 102, of Jacksonville were held Wednesday, April 29, 2015, at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Jacksonville with the Rev. James Farmer officiating.

Interment was at Wofford Cemetery in Frankston.

Mr. Terry passed away Monday, April 27, 2015, in Tyler.

He was born Feb. 14, 1913, in Crockett to James Madison and Bertha Terry.

James worked for the Upper Neches River Authority as a night watchman.

He was preceded in death by wives Pearl Terry, Sylvia Terry and Lois E. Terry and son Bobby Joe Terry.

Survivors include his son Bill Terry and wife Ruth of Jacksonville; daughter Sue Bearden and husband Larry of Jacksonville; step-sons Tom Crouch of Maydelle, Jerry Crouch and wife Brenda of Elkhart, Danny Crouch and wife Jimmie of Maydelle; numerous grandchildren; numerous great grandchildren; numerous great great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Bill Terry, Jr.; Ben Terry; Seth Martin; Chris Bearden; Jess Martin and Sam Dowling.

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