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 (Rounsavall) Edwards

Funeral services for Mary (Rounsavall) Edwards, 86, of LaRue, are scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, June 5, 2021 at Hannigan Smith Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Hannigan Smith Funeral Home, Athens.

Mrs. Edwards passed away May 30, 2021 in Tyler.

Mary May (Rounsavall) Edwards was born July 2, 1934 in Leagueville, the eldest daughter of William Homer “Buster” Rounsavall and Myrtie May (Ross) Rounsavall. Mary grew up in Leagueville, graduated from LaPoynor High School and attended Trinity Valley Community College. In her youth she worked at a tomato packing shed in Athens and after college she worked at Tyler Bank and Trust until she married the love of her life, James F. Edwards. Mary attended Leagueville Baptist Church and after moving to Nederland, became a member of the Southside Baptist Church in Port Neches. Mary and Ed loved to travel but returned often to Leagueville to see family. Mary enjoyed gardening, baking, sewing, playing dominoes and watching the Astros play baseball.

Mary and Ed traveled the world, meeting and making new friends, and learning about new and different cultures. From Brazil’s Copacabana Beach, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the statue of Christ the Redeemer, to the Great Pyramids of Egypt, the Nile River and Valley of the Kings. She traveled and lived in Saudi Arabia, and explored Canada, Switzerland, and Ireland, to name just a few of her adventures.

Mary will be remembered as kind, loving, caring and passionate and will forever be in the hearts of those that knew and loved her.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, James F. Edwards; grandchildren, Baby Girl Coral and James William Grudier; son-in-law, Doug Coral; siblings, Newlon Rounsavall, Harald Rounsavall and wife Loe, A.B. Rounsavall, Bill Rounsavall and wife June and Buck Wallace and husband Jake.

Survivors include children, Hazel (Edwards) Grudier and husband Larry of LaRue, Helen (Edwards) Coral of New Caney; sisters-in-law, Geri Rounsavall of LaRue, Nita Rounsavall of Murchison; grandchildren, Sarah (Grudier) Reyes and husband Anthony of Kingwood, Nathan Grudier and girlfriend Erika Rutz of Conroe, Jonathan Coral and wife Jenny of Porter, Justin Coral of New Caney, Jennipher Parker and husband Kollin of Porter, Julia Coral and boyfriend Tony Zuniga of Porter.

A visitation will be held Friday, June 4, 2021 from 6-8 p.m. at Hannigan Smith Funeral Home.

Janelda Kelly

A funeral service for Janelda Kelly of Tyler, is scheduled at 11 a.m. Sunday, June 13, 2021, at Autry Funeral Home in Frankston. Bro. Harold Conaway will officiate.

Janelda entered eternal life on June 10, 2021. She was born in Houston, TX on July 29, 1957 to Levi and June Clakley.

Janelda loved life and deeply loved her daughter. She will always be remembered for her kindness, generosity, and her fierce spirit. Janelda loved Christmas and made it magical with her handmade crafts and beautiful gift wrapping. She was a Christian who loved Jesus so deeply that her last words were, “thank you Jesus”. Using her talent of crafting, she made many things throughout the years. She has gifted many wreaths, mini trees and paintings to loved ones.

Janelda was a fantastic cook, especially fried chicken, mashed potatoes and milk gravy. She was an avid collector of kitchen gadgets and she loved QVC shopping! She worked for many years as a rural carrier for the USPS, but thoroughly enjoyed retirement and time spent with family.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Sheila Steele and brother, Darrell Clakley.

Left to cherish her memory are her daughter, Renee Conner and husband Chris (Janelda’s best friend and whom she adored) of McKinney; sisters, Dixie Rachell and husband Gary of New Harmony, TX and Diane Chapman and husband Dennis of Prattville, AL. She is also survived by her two grandchildren Bailee Saenz and Carson Conner; three great-grandchildren Levi Casey Saenz, Addison Grace Saenz and Riley Jett Saenz; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Emilio Mata

A graveside service for Emilio Mata of Frankston is scheduled at 10 a.m. Monday, June 14, 2021, at Earle’s Chapel Cemetery. Pastor Antonio Herrera will officiate. Services are under the direction of Autry Funeral Home, Jacksonville.

Visitation will begin on Sunday, June 13, 2021, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Autry Funeral Home, Jacksonville.

Emilio was born on Aug. 5, 1956, and passed away on June 10, 2021. He moved to the United States with nothing, but through his hard work, he made a life for his family. He loved his family very much and he always loved to share his love for Christ. Emilio worked as a welder, and he owned a nursery and a lawn service.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Simon Mata and Adelina Santana Gomez; and sister, Celia.

Left to cherish Emilio’s memory are his children, Bobby Mata and wife Kandice of Frankston, Emilio Shaun Mata of Jacksonville, Christopher Mata of Frankston, John Mata and wife Hien Nguyen of Yukon, OK and Peggy Mata of Frankston. He is also survived by his siblings: Ramon, Pablo, Benito, Alfredo, Ma. Bruna, Ma. Isaias, Estela and Damaris; and his grandchildren Dominic, Tianna, Abel, Makaya, Hayven, Elizabeth, Austin and Ember; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Bobby Mata, Emilio Shaun Mata, Chris Mata, John Mata, Alfredo Mata and Benito Mata.

Jack Walton Conaway

A service to celebrate the life of Jack Walton Conaway, of Frankston, is scheduled at 10 a.m. Monday, June 21, 2021, at First Baptist Church in Frankston. He will be laid to rest at Frankston City Cemetery. Pastor Scott Wiley will officiate.

Jack passed away in his home on June 17, 2021, at the age of 98. He was born at home in the Elmwood community near Palestine on January 14, 1923, to Richard L. and Cora M. (Easley) Conaway.

He grew up on a farm in Elmwood with his 10 siblings and was educated in a one-room schoolhouse. He began working as a welder for Hughes Tool Company in Houston at the age of 18. Shortly after, the United States entered WWII, and Jack enlisted in the Merchant Marines. He traveled throughout the Atlantic, Pacific and Mediterranean war zones serving on cargo ships and tankers. The Merchant Marines had no victories to celebrate except survival of each voyage and suffered a greater percentage of war-related deaths than did the nation’s regular armed forces combined (1:32). Jack’s ship was torpedoed and sank in the Mediterranean Sea. Survivors were eventually rescued from the water, and he was hospitalized at Guantanamo Bay with back injuries before rejoining the war.

Jack married the love of his life Juanita Cook of Frankston on Feb. 17, 1945 in Jacksonville. Their only daughter Janis was born in December, but it was three months before he returned home from the war and was able to see his baby girl. Jack and Juanita were married for 68 years.

He resumed work at Hughes Tool after his discharge. He retired in 1985 as a supervisor after 43 years. Jack and Juanita moved back to East Texas and lived in Frankston for 36 years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge-Eastgate Lodge 1153 in Houston.

Jack was baptized as a child in a creek in Elmwood. He said the creek was dammed and the snakes removed so the traveling Assembly of God preacher could baptize all the saved souls. He attended First Baptist Church in Frankston.

He was a baseball fan and loved being outside in his garden and with his family. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren would regularly gather for breakfast with “Pepa”.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; brothers: Robert and Dalton Conaway; and seven sisters: Ollie Shirey, Edna Mallard, Ruby Grasty, Emeree Thorton, Mable Willard, Evelyn Farris and Faye Taylor.

Left to cherish Jack’s memory are his daughter, Janis Bizzell of Frankston; and his 97-year-old sister, Opal Warren of Palestine.

He is also survived by four grandchildren: Elisa Bizzell of Frankston, Mark Bizzell of Palm Springs, Cal., Sean Bizzell and wife Deitra of Quitman, and Jason Bizzell and wife Carla of Frankston, and seven great-grandchildren: Kaylee, Grace, Jacob, Emily, Lynsie, Carson, and Tye Bizzell. “Uncle Jack” is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Meddie Dean “Bet” Hughes

A funeral service for Meddie Dean “Bet” Hughes of Frankston, is scheduled at 3 p.m. Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at First Baptist Church in Frankston. Rev. Scott Wiley and Rev. George Folmar will officiate. She will be laid to rest at Frankston City Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Autry Funeral Home, Frankston.

Visitation will begin on Tuesday, June 22, 2021, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Autry Funeral Home, Frankston.

Mrs. Hughes passed away on June 18, 2021 in Palestine. Meddie was born in Frankston on Dec. 31, 1929 to Ed and Frankie (Hoffman) Richardson.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Ray Hughes; sister, Jean Rogers and brother, Ed Richardson.

Left to cherish “Bet’s” memory are her son, Allen Hughes and wife Jackie of Frankston; daughter, Geraldine Clem and husband Darell of Conroe; and sister, Pat House of Frankston. She is also survived by grandchildren, Tobby Hughes, Billy Hughes, Coy Clem and Crystal Boomer; great- grandchildren: Dallas, Shane, Valerie, Cooper, Ray Ann, Brody, Stella and Abby; and great-great grandson, Devlin.

Pallbearers will be Bobby Dousay, Andrew Dousay, Tobby Hughes, Billy Hughes, Coy Clem, Mark House, Donny Leavings and Colton Hutchinson.

Rather than customary condolences, memorials may be made to Frankston City Cemetery at P.O. Box 176, Frankston, TX 75763 or First Baptist Church in Frankston at P.O. Box 38, Frankston, TX 75763.

Charlene Smith

A funeral service for Charlene Smith of Frankston, is scheduled at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 24, 2021, at First Assembly of God, Frankston. Visitation will begin at 1 p.m. She will be laid to rest at Frankston City Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Autry Funeral Home in Frankston.

Charlene was born in Henderson County on July 3, 1935 and passed away on June 18, 2021.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charlie Jim and Ola Jane Shackelford; husband, Farris G. Smith; and a brother, Kenneth Shackelford.

Left to cherish Charlene’s memory are her children, Terry Smith and wife Kim of LaRue, Cheryl Socia of Jacksonville and Sandra King of Frankston; and brother, Milton Shackelford. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Joe Jana, Jessica, Jeanie, Melanie, William and Susie; and great-grandchildren: Jacob, Savannah, Ashlyn, Braxton, Jaycee, Ryan, John, Natalie, Nathan, Sarah, Anna Belle and Trey.

Pallbearers will be William Hiser, Trey Richardson, Bren Haynes, Kirk Shackelford, Jason Canady and Jerry Beard.

Thomas Martin

Graveside services for Thomas Martin, 43, of Pittsburg, Kansas, are scheduled for 2:30 p.m., Thursday, July 1, 2021 at Poynor Cemetery officiated by his uncle Rev. Dr. Jim Sustaire.

Mr. Martin passed away June 26, 2021 in Pittsburg, Kansas.

Thomas Alexander Martin was born September 1, 1977 in Bountiful, Utah, the son of Anthony Mac Hanna and JoAnn (Sustaire) Hanna. He spent most of his career in food service working at the Waffle House and Whataburger. Thomas enjoyed working on cars and spending time with his children. He will be missed by all those that knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his father.

Survivors include mother, JoAnn Hanna of Poynor; children, Patrick Martin of Marshalltown, Iowa, Logan Martin of Marshalltown, Iowa, Sage Martin of West Plains, Missouri, Gracie Martin of Springfield, Missouri, Kevin Martin of Pittsburg, Kansas; siblings, Lee Martin and wife Tamara of Fountain, Colorado and Alice Gracey and husband Jimmy of Poynor.

A visitation will be held Thursday, July 1, 2021 from 1-2 p.m. at Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens prior to the service.

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