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.)

Mary Evelyn (Gouger) Coker

Mary Evelyn (Gouger) Coker, 95, went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on July 4, 2023, in Tyler. She was born on Nov. 26, 1927, in Frankston, to Willie Shelby (Boots) and Clementine (Clemmie) Taylor Gouger.

Mary Evelyn was born, raised, and lived her life in Frankston. She had four older sisters: Pauline Deaton, Hattie Duncan, Frankie Lee Westbrook, and Juanelda Quick. Mary graduated from Frankston High School in 1945. She met her best friend, Fairy Lee (Sweetie) Campbell, right after high school at their job. It wasn’t long after that they would both meet their future husbands. Mary Evelyn married T.J. Coker on Oct. 26, 1946. Sweetie married James Bloxom and the couples were lifelong friends and neighbors. Bill and Thelma Hyde later became a part of this circle of friends. They spent many hours in the Bloxom swing visiting after work, laughing and solving the world’s problems.

Mary and T.J. had two children, David and Betsy, and spent most of their married life attending ball games and supporting high school and college athletics. They also supported their three granddaughters the same. Mary always said that she and T.J. knew where all the gyms in East Texas were!

After her children started school, Mary began working at Frankston Paper Box Company where her husband was already working. She worked there for 25 years. They both retired in 1986.

Mary was an excellent cook and fed her children and grandchildren Sunday lunch for many years. She loved her desserts and was known to put a little peanut butter in her chocolate pie.

Mary loved her family, but her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has been her focus for many years. She has been a member of First Baptist Church, Frankston, since she was baptized in 1936, and is their longest tenured member with 86 years. She loved her church family and her Lydia Sunday School Class. She has served her church in many capacities. In her later years, her good friend, Virginia Brasher, joined her in visiting and blessing others. And maybe a little domino playing took place too.

Most recently, Mary has been blessed to have three great grandchildren to love and show off.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband of 56 years, T.J. Coker; her four sisters and brothers in law; and her parents, Boots and Clemmie Gouger.

She is survived by her loving children: son, David Coker and wife Debbie of Bullard; daughter, Betsy Anderson of Frankston; granddaughters, Christi Coker of Flint, Stephanie Mahler and husband Jorden of New Braunfels, Megan Murphy and husband Seth of Flint; great grandchildren, Ella and Easton Mahler of New Braunfels and Marlee Joe Murphy of Flint.

A funeral service is scheduled for 10 a.m., Friday, July 7, 2023, at First Baptist Church in Frankston with Pastor Scott Wiley officiating. Graveside services will follow at Frankston City Cemetery.

Visitation will be at Autry Funeral Home in Frankston on Thursday, July 6, 2023, from 6 to 8 pm.

Pallbearers are Johnny Burks, Jesse Smith, Jamey Hyde, Jeff Hyde, Roy Starr, and Larry Lummus.

Honorary Pallbearers are Ray Beddingfield, Jimmy Bloxom, Paul Truitt, Joe Ellis, Jimmy Westbrook and the Lydia SS Class.

If desired, memorials may be made to Frankston City Cemetery, P.O. Box 176, Frankston, Texas 75763, or First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 38, Frankston, Texas 75763.

Information for this obituary was obtained from a obituary posted by Autry Funeral Home ).

Bobby Gene Selman

A graveside service for Bobby Gene Selman, age 93, of Frankston, is scheduled at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 15, 2023, at Frankston City Cemetery.

Bobby passed away on July 13, 2023, in Carthage. He was born on May 28, 1930, to Ebb and Mae Selman in Malakoff.

Bobby married Sue Whitman on Oct. 1, 1948. They were married 70 years before she preceded him in death Dec. 24, 2018. Bobby and his wife founded Sav-Mor Foods in Frankston in 1968. He resided in Frankston for over 50 years. Bobby was a member of First Baptist Church, Frankston where he served as deacon, Sunday school teacher and lay preacher.

Bobby was preceded in death by his loving wife, Sue; parents, Ebb and Mae Selman and brothers, Bill, Jack, Durwood, and Tommy Selman.

He is survived by his daughter Kay Williamson and husband Charles. His son Larry and his wife Gigi. His grandsons Clint and Adam Selman, Chuck, and Scot Williamson, and seven great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sisters Elizabeth Phillips and husband Jerry, Dorothy Wasunyk and husband Pete and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

His grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

Rather than customary condolences memorials may be made to Frankston City Cemetery at PO Box 176, Frankston, TX 75763 or a charity of your choice.

Information for this obituary was obtained from a obituary posted by Autry Funeral Home ).

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