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.)

Wilda Jean Burns

A Memorial service for Wilda Jean Burns, 72 of Frankston was held Saturday, Oct. 29 at the Burns’ home in Frankston.

She died Monday, Oct. 24 in a Tyler hospital.

Mrs. Burns was born Oct. 9, 1933 in Dallas, TX. She was a homemaker and a Baptist. She was a member of Ladies VFW Auxiliary of Jacksonville, TX.

Mrs. Burns was preceded in death by her husband Roy Clifton Burns.

She is survived by sons Rikkie Burns and wife Tammy; Michael Burns and his wife Darlene; daughters, Deborah Lundy and husband Jim, and Sheila Burns, all of Frankston. Mrs. Burns is also survived by seven grandchildren, seven great grandchildren, and neices and nephews.

Willie Dyer Branch

Graveside services for Willie Dyer Branch, 91, of Palestine were held Saturday, Nov. 5 at Neches City Cemetery with Rev. Max Martin officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Bailey & Foster, Palestine.

Mrs. Branch died Thursday morning at Cartmell Home of Aged. She was born June 10, 1914 in Neches, TX. to Munroe and Gertrude Johnston. Mrs. Branch was a homemaker and a member of the Long Lake Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents, and a son Vaughn Dyer.

Mrs. Branch is survived by her husband Alfred LeRoy Branch of Palestine, also by Gary Branch of Palestine, Judy Miles of Rusk, Betty Ballew of Palestine; a sister, Ruby Irwin of Louisiana; six grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and two nieces.

Pallbearers were grandsons.

Adolph Edward Rabel

Memorial services for Adolph Edward Rabel, 84, of Conroe, formerly of Frankston, were held Saturday, Nov. 12 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, New Waverly with Father Kim Nguyen officiating.

Mr. Rabel died Friday, Nov. 4 in Conroe. He was born Aug. 23, 1921 in Weimar, Texas to Alois and Francisca Banse Rabel.

Mr. Rabel was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, New Waverly, charter member of St. Charles Catholic Church, Frankston and member of Texas Knights of Columbus, Whitehouse.

He was preceded in death by his parents, step-mother, Rosetta Rabel; brothers, Dr. John Rabel and Louis Rabel; sisters, Alvina Metzke, Emma Carney, Frances Schulz and half-sister, Martha Mendel.

Mr. Rabel is survived by his wife, Joyce Rabel; stepchildren, Elma Powell and her husband, David , Conroe; Delbert Riley and his wife Linda, San Marcos; and David Riley and his wife Jean, Conroe; four step-grandchildren, three step-great grandchildren; one sister, Elizabeth Herring, Pasadena; half-brothers, Joe Rabel, Jacinto City; Henry Rabel, Jasper; Emil Rabel, Alvin; Anton Rabel, Weimar and Dr. Herbert Rabel, Houston; half-sisters, Pauline Graham, Dubine; Mary Stos, Ammannsville; Annie Rabel, Weimar and many nieces and nephews.

If desired, donations may be made to “The Gathering Place” Alzheimer’s Respite Care, c/o First Methodist Church, 4308 West Davis, Conroe, Texas 77304.

Mildred Hodge

Funeral services for Mildred Hodge, 80, were held Friday, Nov. 18 at Thompson Funeral Home Chapel, Frankston with Rev. Lynda Schupp officiating. Burial was in Frankston City Cemetery.

Mrs. Hodge died Tuesday, Nov. 15 in Denton, TX.

She was born Nov. 9, 1925 in McComb, MS.

Mrs. Hodge was a homemaker and a Baptist. She was a member of AT&T Pioneer Club.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Otis Hodge.

She is survived by sons and daughter-in-law, David Allen and Judy Hodge, of Corinth and Eddy W. Hodge, of Mesquite; daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne and Roben Conner, of Napa, CA; brothers and sisters-in-law, William and Carolyn DeLaughter, of Crown Point, IN and Thomas R. and Bea DeLaughter of Gary, IN; sister and brother-in-law, Mary and Jim Roden of Montgomery, AL; three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Vickie Lynn Guhl

Graveside services for Vickie Lynn Christopher Guhl, 43, were held Thursday, Nov. 10 at Skyvue Memorial Gardens.

Mrs. Guhl died Saturday, Nov. 5 in Arlington, TX.

She was a secretary for Corner Bakery.

Mrs. Guhl was preceded in death by Frank and Carrie Murphy, Mr.and Mrs. P.M. Coker and Mr. and Mr. Forrest Williamson all of Frankston.

She is the great niece of Blanch Dodson of Frankston.Jesse and Pauline Coker and Gerald and Cecile Burton, all of Chandler.

Mrs. Guhl is survived by her husband of 20 years, Steven Allen Guhl; children, Crystal, Ruby, Angela and Charles; parents, Chris and Barbara Christopher; sisters, Amy and Stacy Christopher; and three grandchildren, Briana, Brian and Landon.

Lillie Mae Neel

LARUE — Funeral services for Lillie Mae Neel, 84, New York, TX, have been scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 23 at the Calvary Temple Assembly of God in Athens with the Rev. Arnold Walker and Rev. John Cook officiating. Interment will follow at Oaklawn Memorial Park under the direction of Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home.

Mrs. Neel died Sunday, Nov. 20.

Mrs. Neel was born May 11, 1921 in Rice to the late Thomas and Sedera Wigginton Shue. She had been a resident of the Athens and New York communities for the last 30 years.

She attended Southwestern Bible College and, with her husband, pastored churches in Texas and New Mexico. She was office manager and bookkeeper for the Neel Company and retired to being a full-time grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel B. Neel, one infant daughter, one infant granddaughter, Raychell Kerrick, and seven brothers and sisters.

She is survived by her children, Daniel Neel and wife, Loretta, and Larrie Neel all of New York; Valaree Kerrick and husband, Jimmy of Georgetown; and Carol Holbert of Mabank; grandchildren, Kimberly Lee and husband, John of Waco; Shantell Emerine and husband, Jeff of Frankston; Thomas Kerrick, Georgetown; Kristie Harris, Lampasas; and Jason Harris, Mabank; great grandchildren, Karen and Kelly Emerine of Frankston; Rivers Harris, Lampasas; brother, Charlie Shue, Ennis; sister, RosaLee Spence of Corsicana; three sisters-in-law and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Jack Travis, Robert Travis, Harlan Womack, Don Shue, Lawrence Shue and Chad Spence. Honorary Pallbearers are, Jerry Hinkle, Gary Shue, Raymond Shue, Kelton Spence and Doyle Pearson.

Memorials may be made to the Pleasant Hills Children's Home, Fairfield.

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