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.)

Justin Bradley Ballow

Justin Bradley Ballow, age 41, unexpectedly passed away on Sunday, Nov. 17, 2024, at his home. He was born on Aug. 26, 1983, in Tyler to Bruce Wayne Ballow and Linda Bilot.

He was preceded in death by his Paw Paw Bruce Ballow, Nanu Bill Bilotti and Nana Kathy Bilotti.

Justin was a family man; he enjoyed anything that involved his family and friends. He would do anything he could to help anybody. He enjoyed grilling out and smoking good food to eat. In his spare time, he loved to hunt and was teaching his boys those things. He was known as a Cornhole champion of the bunch. Most of all, he was a perfect husband to the love of his life, Crystal, and a perfect dad to his boys. His absence will leave a huge hole in the hearts of all who loved and adored Justin.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Crystal Ballow; sons, Colton Ballow, Easton Ballow and Weston Ballow; father, Bruce Ballow; mother, Linda Bilotti; brother, Dexter Ballow and wife Rachelle; nieces, Remington and Brooklynn Ballow; MiMi Vaunda Ballow; along with many extended family and dear friends.

The pallbearers will be Dexter Ballow, Michael Ballow, Brey Rasco, Jason Rogers, Johnny Iacono, Shane Mitchum, Ashton Abendroth and Dustin Morman. Honorary pallbearers will be Colton Ballow, Easton Ballow, Weston Ballow, Bruce Ballow, Johnny Ballow, Bobby Ficco, and Chad Keene.

Visitation was held on Thursday evening, Nov. 21, 2024, from at Autry’s Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home in Athens. Funeral services were to be Friday Nov. 22, 2024, at 2 p.m. at LaPoynor Church of Christ.

(Information for this obituary’ obtained from a posting by Autry’s Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home Athens.)

Hunter Menjivar

Hunter Menjivar – a beloved husband, father, and grandfather – walked into the arms of our Heavenly Father at 11:15 on Saturday Nov. 16, 2024, at the age of 54, leaving behind a legacy of love, perseverance, and devotion.

A celebration of Hunter’s life will be held on Saturday Dec. 7, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Herrington Funeral Home in Palestine.

Hunter was born in a small town on the outskirts of Medellin, Colombia to Maritza and Hector Del Sol on Dec. 14, 1969. At the age of 13, after the loss of his family, he migrated to America where he developed a deep love and appreciation for this country, considering his American citizenship one of the biggest blessings God had provided him.

Hunter’s American journey began in Palestine, where he met Judy Thompson through son Aaron Stasel and was instantly welcomed as part of her family. At 18 with nothing more than a guitar and $6, he set out to California where he began the process of applying for permanent American citizenship, a process that he was able to complete many years later in Kentucky.

The process of coming to America as a resident alien and later becoming a citizen inspired Hunter to devote his time to working in the Spanish community. He truly believed that America was a light in a dark world and wanted to be able to help and encourage others who sought refuge here. For his work with the Spanish community, Hunter was the recipient of the Kentucky Colonels Award, the highest title of honor given by the Governor of Kentucky.

Later Hunter returned to Texas where he spent time with his brother Aaron and family. In 2005 he married his wife Rachel and together they began a family of their own. God blessed them with two beautiful children, daughter and lights of his world: Abigail Beth and son Gabriel Ark, who perfectly completed the family.

Hunter found immense joy in being a devoted husband and father. His family was everything to him and his greatest gift from God, and he was never shy about expressing how much they meant to him. He often referred to his family as a life raft God sent him, stating how it was his act of random kindness from God, something he never deserved but would live his life trying to earn.

Beyond his work and family, Hunter had a passion for music, a passion which he passed on to his children. Many nights, the family would pick a song to learn together, he and Gabe on guitar and Rachel and Abby on vocals. He was also an avid storyteller, sharing tales of his journey from Colombia to America and the lessons he learned along the way. His love for life, his laughter, and his assuredness will be deeply missed.

Hunter is survived by his loving wife, Rachel; his cherished children Abigail Beth Suggs and husband Henry, daughter Sophia Martiza Suggs, and son Gabriel Ark Menjivar; his grandmother-in law Evangeline O’Neal; mother-in-law Schelby Wells; sisters-in-law Stephanie Aylor, Sarah Wells and Rebecca Stasel; brothers, Aaron Stasel and Landon Stasel; nieces Emily Aylor, Hannah Stasel, Avian Cox, and husband Jonathan Cox and children Ember and Jensen Cox, Lyric Moyers, husband Jacob, and daughters Avery and Emma Frazier; nephews Hayden Aylor, Isaac Stasel, and Elijah Stasel, and many more family and friends.

Hunter was preceded in death by his parents, Maritza Menjivar Del Sol and Hector Del Sol; grandmother Amelia Menjivar; brother Renee Menjivar Del Sol; father-in-law Michael Wells; grandfather-in-law Charles O’Neal; and the woman who chose to be his mother, Judy Thompson.

In honor of Hunter’s love for music, the family asks that donations be made to the Frankston Indian Band at 100 Perry Street, Frankston, Tx, 75763.

Hunter’s steadfast faith, boundless love, and unshakable determination will forever inspire those who were blessed to know him. Now at rest in the embrace of his Heavenly Father, he leaves behind a lasting legacy of perseverance and devotion that will remain etched in the hearts of his family and friends.