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.)

Bob Taylor

Funeral services for Bob Taylor, 83, of the Fincastle Community, were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3, at Thompson Funeral Home in Frankston with Rev. J.A. Griffin officiating.

Burial was in Myrtle Springs Cemetery in LaRue.

Mr. Taylor died Friday, Aug. 1 in a Tyler hospital.

He was born July 8, 1920 in Henderson County to the late Wallace Otto Taylor Sr. and Marie Erwin Taylor. Mr. Taylor was retired as a foreman in the oil industry.

He was preceded in death by brothers, W.J. Taylor, Jensen Taylor and Wallace O. Taylor Jr.; father, Wallace Otto Taylor Sr.; mother, Marie Erwin Taylor; and stepmother, Mary Poston Taylor.

Survivors include a sister, Eliene Harrison of Frankston; nieces, nephews and cousins.

Pallbearers were Dan Taylor, Bobby Taylor, Randy Alexander, Doug Garber, Frank Tucker, Eugene Taylor, Jim David Dickerson and Bill Harden.

Honorary pallbearers were Barbara Tucker, Marla Garber, Dan Hunter, Preston Gamble, Mack Powell, Jimmy Lewis Dickerson, J.C. Redding and other nephews.

Norma Raie Pate Frazier

Memorial services for Norma Raie Pate Frazier, 67, of Rockport, formerly of Frankston, were scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 9, at 12 noon at Flo Community Church in Flo, Texas with Rev. Kenneth Stone officiating, according to local relatives

Mrs. Frazier died Friday, July 18, the relatives said.

She was born March 12, 1936, daughter of Sam and Leetrice Pate.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Survivors include her husband, Kenneth; three sons, William McMullen, Keith Frazier and Leonard McMullen; two daughters, Imogene McCreary and Denise McDonald; one brother, Kenneth Pate; six sisters, Marie Chaneyworth and Betty Weeks, both of Frankston, Vicky Knight, Kathy Brabston, Sandra Hardy and Doris Counts.

Walter Herbert Lade

Funeral services for Walter Herbert Lade, 94, of Brushy Creek were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, in the Brushy Creek United Methodist Church with Dr. Jack Shoultz and grandson Rev. Craig Garrett officiating.

Burial was at Olive Branch Cemetery under the direction of Bailey & Foster, Palestine.

Mr. Lade was born Jan. 29, 1909 in Palestine to John F. Lade and Marie Spierling Lade, and died on Aug. 8, 2003.

He was a member of the Brushy Creek United Methodist Church and was a longtime farmer and rancher. He was a member of the Frankston ISD Board of Trustees for a number of years in the1950s.

Mr. Lade was preceded in death by his wife, Stella Willingham Lade and son, Bobby Lade.

He is survived by three daughters and their husbands: Dorothy and Johnnie Johnson of Nacogdoches, Julie and Tommy Whitney of Atascosita, and Carolyn and Tom Wiens of Addison; eight grandchildren and 21 great-grandchildren, plus an expected one.

Grandsons served as pallbearers.

Memorials may be donated to the Brushy Creek United Methodist Church, 501 Anderson County Road 4452, Palestine, TX 75803.

Ozie Schmid

LARUE — Funeral services for Ozie Schmid, 82, of LaRue were held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 10, in the Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with Rev. Randy Huffman bringing the message and the music.

The eulogy was delivered by Mrs. Schmid’s daughter, Judy White.

Graveside service was held in Evergreen Cemetery in Percilla with Rev. Kenny Bush bringing the message and Mrs. Schmid’s niece, Tammy Rebecek singing “The Lord’s Prayer.”

Mrs. Schmid died Tuesday, Aug. 5 in an Athens nursing home.

She was born Oct. 19, 1920 in Grapeland to Henry “Pink” and Lois Oates, grew up in Percilla, and attended Grapeland Schools, graduating in 1939. She had lived in several cities in Texas, but came to Frankston in the late ‘60s and later settled in LaRue.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Bill White of LaRue; her grandson, Paul Murphy of Denver, Colo.; her granddaughter and husband, Susan and Jeffrey Gardella, and two great-grandsons, Joshua Gardella and Cody Gardella, all of Westlake Village, Calif.; two sisters, Ms. Owena Oates and Mrs. Lavoyce Tinsley, both of Tomball; and several nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her sister, Edna Horton; and a brother, Louis Oates.

If desired, memorials may be made to National Osteoporosis Foundation, 1232 22nd St. N.W., Washington, D.C. 20037-1292, or to the College Scholarship Fund of the United Methodist Church of Frankston.

Wanda Buford

ATHENS — Funeral services for Wanda Louise Buford, 78, of Athens, were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at Bethel Christian Church with the Rev. Darrel Hoffmaster officiating.

Burial was in Oaklawn Memorial Park under direction of Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home, Athens.

Mrs. Buford died Sunday, Aug. 10 at her residence.

She was born July 3, 1925, in Athens to Jesse Frank and Evie Gurnsey Stinnett.

Mrs. Buford was preceded in death by her husband, E.C. “Bud” Buford; a sister, Dorothy Keller; and great-granddaughter, Alissa Dawn Anton.

Survivors include her sons, Billy Don Buford, Allen Buford; sons and daughters-in-law, Eugene and Lois Buford, Tony and Cameron Buford, all of Athens, Terry and Cathy Buford of Plano; daughters and sons-in-law, Peggy and Bobby Oldham of Murchison, Sharon Buford of Dallas, Betty Denise Fuller of Las Vegas, Nev., Becky and Buddy Ivey of Rowlett; sisters and brothers-in-law, Virginia and Richard Ware of Dallas, Hazel and Gerald Thornton of Jacksonville; sisters-in-law, Jessie Jo Buford of Pasadena and Pauline Shinn of Athens; 18 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Jerry Ramsey, Jerry Keller, Barry Keller, Richard Ware, Michael Harrison and Jeff Long.

Memorials may be made to Bethel Christian Church, P.O. Box 2441, Athens, 75751, or Hospice of East Texas, 700 S. Palestine, Athens, 75751.

Bob Neal Burdine

IRVING — The Service of Thanksgiving and Remembrance for Bob Neal Burdine, 76, of Irving was held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14, at the United Methodist Church of Irving, and Pastor Rusty Hedges and Rev. Dr. Jimmy Hopper, the cousin of Cindy Burdine Coleman and pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Danville, Ill., officiated.

A Marine honor guard presented the U.S. Flag to the deceased’s daughter, Cindy Coleman, followed by the playing of Taps.

Graveside services were held at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14, at the Wofford Cemetery in Frankston with Rev. Dr. Jimmy Hopper officiating.

Services were under the direction of Donnelly’s Colonial Funeral Home where a visitation was held on Wednesday, Aug. 13, from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m.

Mr. Burdine died Aug. 11 at his home.

He was born Aug. 4, 1927, in Little Rock, Ark. and had been a resident of Irving for 30 years. Mr. Burdine graduated from high school at Union City, Tenn. and the University of Chattanooga, in Chattanooga, Tenn. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He married Laquita Joy Warrington of Frankston on June 6, 1953.

Mr. Burdine was a Quality Control Engineer for Honeywell Industries for 10 years, previously with Nuclear Medical Lab for 20 years, and active member of First United Methodist Church in Irving, the Kiwanis Club of Mineral Wells and Precinct Chairman of the Republican Club of Irving. He was involved with the stroke support group at Baylor Medical Center of Irving, and a member of Star Trekkers Walking Club.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Laquita Joy Burdine, Dec. 20, 2002; his parents, William and Augusta Burdine; and his brother, William Burdine.

He is survived by his daughter, Cindy Coleman, and her husband, Russell Coleman, two grandchildren, Christopher and Andrea Coleman, all of Grapevine; a sister-in-law, Martha Ellen Warrington Hopper and brother-in-law, Jim Hopper of San Antonio; a sister-in-law, June Warrington Williams of Dallas; brothers-in-law, Ray Warrington of Odessa and Dudley Warrington of Frankston; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Russell Coleman, son-in-law; Christopher Coleman, grandson; Jim Hopper, brother-in-law; Rev. Jimmy Hopper, nephew; Robert German Jr., Bill Reynolds and Derol Todd.

Immediately following the graveside service, Frances and Billy Beard of Frankston hosted a reception at their home for family members.

Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 211 W. Third St., Irving, TX 75060.

Rae Lee

LARUE — Memorial services for Rae Lee, 70, of LaRue were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, at Eastern Hills Church of Christ of Athens, with David Mahan officiating. Arrangements were with Foster & Brown Funeral Home, Athens.

Mrs. Lee died Sunday, Aug. 10.

She was born May 11, 1933, in New York, N.Y. to the late Samuel and May Lichter.

Mrs. Lee had been an administrative assistant for several manufacturing firms, and was preceded in death by her daughter, Robin Reid.

Survivors include her husband of 44 years, Jim Lee of LaRue; a daughter, Donna Zahn of Katy; six grandchildren, one great-grandchild and other relatives.

James Larry Murphey

Graveside services for James Larry Murphey, 65, of Irving, formerly of Frankston, were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20, at the Liberty Hill Cemetery in Frankston with Rev. J.A. Griffin officiating.

Services were under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home, Frankston.

Mr. Murphey died Monday, Aug. 18, in a Dallas hospital.

He was born Aug. 2, 1938 in Frankston.

Mr. Murphey was a brick mason and a member of the Assembly of God.

Survivors include his wife, Faye Murphey of Irving; sons, Rusty Murphey of Hurst and Jeff Powell of Georgetown; daughters, Marcelle Weishner of Kemp and Gina McNeeley of Sacramento, Calif.; his father, Dudley Murphey of Frankston; brothers, David Murphey and Richard Murphey, both of Frankston; six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Vurnia 'Punk' Underwood

Funeral services for Vurnia “Punk” Underwood, 81, of Frankston were held Monday, Aug. 18, at 2 p.m. at the HillTop Baptist Church in Frankston with Bro. Ron Ivey officiating.

Burial was held at Roselawn Cemetery in Palestine under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home of Frankston.

Mrs. Underwood died Friday, Aug. 15 at her residence.

She was born Sept. 15, 1921 in Gallatin. Mrs. Underwood was a homemaker and a Baptist.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin Underwood; and a daughter, Dorothy Fay Underwood.

Survivors include sons, Donald Ray Underwood and John Dale Underwood, both of Palestine; a daughter, Peggy Mars of Elkhart; sisters, Claira Underwood of Frankston and Johnny Jones of Gallatin; five grandchildren, eight grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were John Alvin Underwood, Ricky Young, Eric Shull, Derryl Evans, Jimmy Evans and Robert Underwood.

Honorary pallbearers were Jimmie Fail and David Hodges.

James B. Clark II

Funeral services for James B. Clark II, 57, of Frankston were held at 10 a.m Thursday, Aug. 28, in the Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with Pastor Larry Dunn officiating.

Burial was in the LaRue Cemetery, LaRue, Texas.

Mr. Clark died Sunday, Aug. 24 in a Tyler hospital.

He was born Nov. 3, 1945 in Jacksonville. He was an appliance service technician. Mr. Clark served in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He was preceded in death by his father, J.B. Clark Sr.

Survivors include a son and daughter-inlaw, James B. III and Pamela Clark of Frankston; his mother and step-father, Henry Onetia Pike Clark and Almond B. Clark, of Frankston; two grandsons, Treston Clark and Trenton Clark.

Pallbearers were Bill Ewing, Mike Ewing, Mark Ewing, Bobby Brock, Robert Brock and Jeremy Brock.

Troy A. Ellis

Memorial services for SFC Troy A. Ellis, 67, of Frankston, formerly of Jacksonville were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, in the Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Jacksonville with the Rev. F.E. Kennedy officiating.

Mr. Ellis died Tuesday, Aug. 19, in a Tyler hospital.

He was born March 8, 1936 in Jacksonville.

Mr. Ellis retired from the military, having served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the Assembly of God. He was a Post Commander of VFW 3984, former State Chief of Staff for VFW State of Texas, District 19 Commander of VFW.

He was preceded in death by a son, Jerry Chandler.

Survivors include his wife, Virginia Su Ellis of Frankston; sons, Ronald Ellis of Southhaven, Miss., Steven Ellis of Palestine, Mike Chandler and James Chandler Jr., both of Jacksonville; daughters, Rene Hood of Jacksonville and Cheryl Gee of Frankston; a brother, Lawrence Ellis of Frankston; a sister, Martha Bevel of Jacksonville; PePaw’s 10 grandkids, Brandie George, Mark Ellis, Ronnie Ellis, Michael Ellis, Tia Hood, Bear Hood, Scott Batton, Leann Jones, Chris Chandler and Stephanie Ellis; five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers were Michael Ellis, Ronnie Ellis, Scott Batton, Bear Hood, Bennie Ray Hood, Mark Ellis and Chris Chandler.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Assn.

Edna Mary Brown Jennings

Funeral services for Edna Mary Brown Jennings, 89, of Frankston, formerly of Clark County, Ark., were held at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, in the Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with Minister Tim McKeown officiating.

Burial was in the Frankston City Cemetery.

Mrs. Jennings died Thursday, Aug. 21, in Tyler. She was born May 20, 1914 in Gurdon, Ark.

Mrs. Jennings was a retired chef and a Baptist.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Hubert Cyrus Jennings; a daughter, Juanita McGowan; four brothers and four sisters.

Survivors include sons, Herbert Allen Jennings of Waskom and Roy Clarence Jennings of Mt. Pleasant; daughters, Betty Janel Jennings Howell of Gardendale, Dorothy Mae Jennings Curry of Eldorado, Ark, and Velma Lucille Jennings Woodward of Doyline, La.; 19 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were grandsons. Honorary pallbearers were other family members.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of East Texas, Friendly Baptist Church, 1903 E. Front St., Tyler, TX 75702 or the Frankston City Cemetery.

Carol A. Medlin

Funeral services for Carol A. Medlin, 49, of Brushy Creek were held at 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29, at the Frankston Assembly of God with Rev. J.A. Griffin officiating.

Burial was in the Brushy Creek Cemetery under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home, Frankston.

Mrs. Medlin died Monday, Aug. 25, at her residence.

She was born June 2, 1954 in Pasadena and was a R. N. at Palestine Regional Medical Center for 22 years. Mrs. Medlin was a member of the Frankston Assembly of God.

Survivors include her husband, Landis E. (Lanny) Medlin Jr. of Brushy Creek; sons, Jerry Neal Medlin of New York City, and Keith Allen Medlin of Brushy Creek; brothers, Robert Lee Parker Jr. of Florida and Stephen Allen Parker of Palestine; a sister, Catherine Louise Beach of of Calico Rock, Ark.; grandchildren, Andrew Blake Medlin of Grand Prairie and Caitlyn Grace Medlin of Brushy Creek.

Pallbearers were C.R. (Bubba) House, Larry Sexton, Mark Terrell, Randy Shipman, Jerry Hubbard and Marc Hoffman.

Honorary pallbearers were Elton (Bud) Jones, Preston Stringer, Les Wells, Jimmy Morris and Mike Griffin.

Eloise Thompson

TYLER — Memorial services for Eloise Thompson, 82, of Tyler were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, at Memorial Funeral Home in Tyler. The minister was Dr. Jay Lockhart of West Erwin Church of Christ and song director was Dwayne Wheeler.

Private graveside services were held early Sunday morning..

Mrs. Thompson died Friday, Aug. 22, after a lengthy illness.

She was born March 27, 1921 in Fort Deposit, Ala., to the late Clarence and Edna Buffington.

Mrs. Thompson grew up and attended school in Montgomery, Ala., and then attended Freed-Hardeman College in Henderson, Tenn. There she met a young preacher, David LeRoy Thompson, whom she later married in 1942. She lived in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas, and received her bachelor’s degree from Lamar University in Beaumont. Mrs. Thompson taught junior high English for a few years and then taught third grade for the majority of her 27 years in the teaching profession. She retired from the Van Independent School District in 1988. She also taught Sunday School and Ladies’ Bible Classes.

Mrs. Thompson was preceded in death by her two brothers, Clarence Buffington and Morgan Buffington.

Survivors include her husband of 61 years, David LeRoy Thompson; two daughters and sons-in-law, Judy and Daryl Hollis and Beth and Ed Fore; one son and daughter-in-law, John and Becky Thompson of Frankston; three grandchildren, Mark Hollis, Scott Thompson and Marla Thompson; three great-grandchildren, Jack Hollis, Colton Puryear and Tyler Puryear; one sister, Doris Nelson; and several nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers were David Buffington, Don Durham, Ed Fore, Phil Marts, Danny Shelton, Bill Tilger and Leon Welborn.

If desired, memorials may be made to East Texas Christian Academy in Tyler or to Hospice of East Texas.

Kenneth Albert Turner

Funeral services for Kenneth Albert Turner, 69, of Frankston were held Tuesday, Aug. 26, at 1 p.m. at the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home in Frankston with Bob McMakin officiating.

Burial was held at Calvary Hill Cemetery in Spring on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at 2 p.m.

Mr. Turner died Aug. 23 at his residence.

He was born Oct. 13, 1933 in Wichita Falls, Texas. He was retired from Civil Service — U.S. Government.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Jackie Ray Turner; and a grandson, Jeremy “Chad” Gilliam.

Survivors include his wife, Dovie Turner of Frankston; sons, Kenneth R. Turner of Flint, Mich. and James Michael Turner of Los Angeles, Calif.; a daughter and son-in-law, Kimberly and Brian Gilliam of Spring; a brother and sister-in-law, Charles Herbert and Joy Turner of Flint; a sister and brother-in-law, Barbara Jean and Bob Thompson of Wichita Falls; granddaughters, Jamie Shannon Gilliam and Jessica Danielle Gilliam, both of Spring.

Pallbearers were Brian Gilliam, Scott Boyte, Shawn Sailer, Keith Scales, Travis Telez, John Thompson, Tim Ventura, Charlie Waters and Howard Waters.

Memorials may be made to Methodist Men of Frankston United Methodist Church.

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