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.)

Margaret M. Conaway

Funeral services for Margaret M. Conaway, 72 of Kingsland, Texas, formerly of Flint, Texas, were held at Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 with Rev. Harold W. Conaway officiating.

Burial followed at Frankston City Cemetery.

Mrs. Conaway died Wednesday, Sept. 28, at her residence.

She was born Oct. 26, 1932 in Percilla, Texas. Mrs. Conaway was a homemaker, mother and grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Conaway.

Mrs. Conaway is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Rev. Harold W. and Beckie Conaway of Kingsland, daughter, Deborah Rivers of Flint, her brother, Robert Frazier of Palestine, Texas, a sister, Vernice Dixon of Elkhart, Texas, three grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Pallbearers were Curtis Dixon, Marcus Dixon, James Dixon, Darrell Clakely, Larry DeFore, David DeFore, and Kyle Bundy.

Phyllis Jean Janes Long

Funeral services for Phyllis Jean Janes Long, 58, of Frankston, Texas were held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Marshall and Marshall Funeral Directors Downtown Chapel, Hillsboro, Texas. Rev. Eddie Hilburn of First Baptist Church of Frankston officiated.

Burial followed at Hickey Cemetery in the Union Bluff Community in Hill County.

Mrs. Long died Sept. 28 in Jacksonville, Texas.

She was born Aug. 28, 1947 in Borger, Texas. Mrs. Long was the daughter of Thomas Alvin and Dorothy Murle (Leggett) Janes. She was raised in the Union Bluff Community and graduated from Hillsboro High School. She married Larry Dean Long, Sept. 24, 1979 in Dallas, Texas. Mrs. Long lived in Dallas and Rosenberg, Texas for 14 years each, and in Frankston for the past 11 years. She worked as a nurse for 37 years, retiring in 1996. Mrs. Long was a member of First Baptist Church of Frankston.

She was preceded in death by her father in November, 1983.

Mrs. Long is survived by her husband, Larry Long also of Frankston, her mother, Dorothy Hester and brother, Kenneth Janes both of Hillsboro, her sister, Shirley Sandy of Frankston, step-children, Clifford Long of Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Lisa Blum of King City, Missouri.

Onetia Clark

Funeral services for Onetia Clark, 79, Frankston, were held on Wednesday, Oct. 12 in the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home in Frankston with Rev. George Folmar officiating.

Burial followed at Wofford Cemetery, Frankston.

Mrs. Clark died Saturday, Oct. 8 at Hospice of East Texas in Tyler.

She was born on April 5, 1926 in Anderson County. Mrs. Clark was a homemaker.

Mrs. Clark was preceded in death by her son, James Bryant Clark II.

She is survived by her husband, Almond E. Clark, also of Frankston, a brother, Authur Lee Pike, Jr. of Weatherford, Texas, sister, Janie Mae Jennings, grandson, James Bryant Clark III, and great grandsons, Treston Clark and Trenton L. Clark all of Frankston.

Pallbearers were Kenneth Pike, Justin Pike, Stan Farr, Jesse Farr and W.T. Jennings.

Daisy Cramer

Funeral services for Daisy Cramer, 88 of Poynor, were held Thursday, Oct. 13 at the First Baptist Church of Poynor at 11 a.m. with Rev. Jeff Godwin and Rev. Martin McRae officiating under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home, Frankston.

Burial followed at Poynor Cemetery.

Mrs. Cramer died Tuesday, Oct. 11 in Poynor.

She was born Feb. 5 in Bernice, Louisiana. Mrs. Cramer was a mother and housewife. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Poynor.

Mrs. Cramer was preceded in death by her husband, Norman Odelle Cramer.

She is survived by son, Billy Wayne Cramer and his wife, JoAnn of LaRue, daughter, Carolyn Cramer Peoples and her husband, Frank of Mobile, AL, sisters, Floy Roberts of Ruston, LA and Betty Jo Green of Bernice, LA, and her grandchildren.

Visitation was held Wednesday, Oct. 12.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of East Texas or the American Cancer Society.

James E. Kerr

Graveside services for James E. Kerr, 58, Tyler, are scheduled for 3 p.m., Friday, Oct. 14, at the Henry’s Chapel Cemetery, near Troup, with the Reverend Danny Carter officiating, under the direction of Cottle Funeral Home, Troup, Texas.

Mr. Kerr died Monday, Oct.10, in Henderson, Texas.

He was born Jan. 9, 1947 to Luther and Dorothy Simmons Kerr. He was a graduate of Palestine High School and Tyler Junior College. He retired in 2002 following 30 years of employment as a Service Technician for Sears. He was currently employed by Nasco. He had been a resident of Tyler since 1976.

Mr. Kerr was an Air Force Veteran of the Vietnam war.

He as a member of the Asbury United Methodist Church, Tyler, where he was a member of the Choir and assisted his wife in teaching the Youth Sunday School Class.

He married Mary Agnes Musslewhite, April 17, 1971, at the First Baptist Church, Troup.

Mr. Kerr was preceded in death by a daughter, Mary Ann Kerr, March 20, 1990. He was also preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Simmons Kerr.

Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Mary Musslewhite Kerr, Tyler; a daughter, Jeannie Boswell, Tyler; his father, Luther Kerr, Frankston; a sister, Elizabeth Cavanaugh, Alamogordo, New Mexico; and his grandchildren.

C.E. “Pat” Patterson

Funeral services for C.E. “Pat” Patterson, 84, of LaRue, Texas were held on Monday, Oct. 10 at First Baptist Church of Poynor with Bro. Jeff Godwin officiating under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home, Frankston.

Burial followed at Myrtle Springs Cemetery in LaRue.

Mr. Patterson died Saturday, Oct. 8 in Athens, Texas.

He was born Jan. 26, 1921 in Saulsbury, Tennessee. Mr. Patterson was a member of the First Baptist Church of Poynor. He had been a truck driver and a business owner of service stations, an ambulance service and a wrecker service.

Mr. Patterson is survived by Geneva Patterson, his wife of 54 years, and a son, Richard, both of LaRue, daughters, Patsy Sonnentag and husband Greg of LaRue, Anita Waldrip and husband Raymond of Boyd, Texas, Angela Bell and husband Jim of Hurst, Texas, Claudette Cain of Newport, Indiana, Kay Greene of Grandview, Washington and Debbie Huffaker and husband Larry of Keller, Texas.

He is also survived by a sister, Ebbia Branan of Jacksonville, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Richard Patterson, Michael Patterson, Shawn Waldrip, Dee Jay Waldrip, Jacob Sonnentag, Jeremy Sonnentag, Christopher Bell and Brayden Bell.

Honorary Pallbearers were Christopher Keltner, Tad Tegtmeyer, Leon Minks and Clay Sheffield.

Memorials may be made to Grace Community Church for the building fund of the Athens Campus; 3215 Old Jacksonville Rd., Tyler Texas 75701.

David William Stibbins

Funeral services for David William Stibbins, 62 of Frankston, were held Wednesday, Oct. 12 at Thompson Funeral Home Chapel, Frankston, with Rev. Ron Thomas officiating.

Burial followed at the Olive Branch Cemetery, Brushy Creek, Texas.

Mr. Stibbins died Sunday, Oct. 9 at Hospice Homeplace, Tyler.

He was born Sept. 28 in McKinney, Texas. Mr. Stibbins was the owner of 6D Cattle Company.

He is survived by his wife, Doris Stibbins, sons, Darrell Stibbins and wife, Theresa of Whitehouse, Texas, and Dustin Stibbins and wife, Jamie of Brushy Creek, Texas, daughters, Daphne Noble of Pollock, Texas, and Dee Matthews and husband, Randy of Montgomery, Texas, brothers, Tommy Stibbins and Roy Stibbins both of Garland, Texas, sisters, Bonnie Helterbrand of Garland, Texas and Jimmie Lee Stibbins of Sherman, Texas, and his grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Bill Whitehurst, Bob Whitehurst, Kevin McDonald, Billy Joe Edwards, Dustin Stibbins and Darrell Stibbins.

James Leo Benjamin

Funeral services for James Leo Benjamin of Frankston were held Friday, Oct. 21 at Allnut Funeral Home in Loveland, Colo.

A family memorial service was held at the home of Duane and Beth Benjamin of Frankston.

Mr. Benjamin was born in Toledo, Ohio on Jan. 11, 1949. He died Oct. 17.

He was a veteran of military service.

Mr. Benjamin is survived by his mother, Nola Benjamin of Frankston; two daughters, Donna Tanner and Dawn Galpal, both of Toledo, Ohio; two sons, James and Joey Benjamin, both of Loveland, Colo.; grandchildren, Craig and Brittany Tanner, and Todd and Ronald Galpal, all of Toledo; and brothers and sisters, Diane Hoffman and Linda Wright, both of Frankston, Dorothy Magee of Idaho, Duane Benjamin of Frankston, Dennis Benjamin of New Mexico, Sue Hunt of Wyoming and Alice Chambless of Canton. He is also survived by special companion Joyce Rutledge and family, Joseph Casper and many more loving family and friends.

Douglas Eugene Blaser

Graveside services for Douglas Eugene Blaser, 60, a resident of Frankston for over 23 years, were held Saturday, Oct. 22 at Frankston City

Cemetery with Bro. John Brindley officiating.

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

He was born Dec. 22, 1945. Mr. Blaser died Oct. 18 in Anderson County.

He worshipped at the First United Methodist Church of Frankston, and at the time of his death was employed at Foot’s Liquor Store in Palestine, Texas.

Mr. Blaser was preceded in death by his father, Col. Eugene V. Blaser, and by stepfather Ruie B. Cathey.

Mr. Blaser is survived by his mother, Frances Nettie Cathey-Rutherford, of Twin Oaks in Jacksonville, Texas; his brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Jackie Blaser of Poynor; his nephew, Mickey Blaser and niece, Codie Blaser, also of Poynor.

He was a musician first and foremost, a songwriter who once won the Kerrville Folk Festival for Best Songwriter and Best Performer, a teacher and a historian. Relatives describe him as a man who loved to talk and could tell you just about everything about anything; all you had to do was ask.

Donations may be made in Mr. Blaser’s name to The United Methodist Church in Frankston.

Pallbearers were Bill Scenters, Brian Richardson, Don Richardson, Jr., Mickey Braser, Jim Stinson and Mike Blaser.

Honorary pallbearers were Don Richardson, Sr. and Tommy Rutherford.

Mellba Alexander Jones

Funeral services for Melba Alexander Jones, 79, Frankston, were held Wednesday, Oct. 26 at Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with Bro. Eddie Hilburn officiating.

Burial was held at the Salem Cemetery in Cass Co., TX.

Mrs. Jones died Sunday, Oct. 23 in Tyler, TX.

She was born April 12, 1926 in DeKalb, TX. Mrs. Jones was a homemaker. Mrs. Jones was a member of OES-Athens Chapter Number 171 — an endowed 50 year member. She served as Worthy Matron (1986-87 and 2000-01), Deputy Grand Matron (1989-90) and Grand Representative of Utah in Texas (1993-96). Mrs. Jones volunteered at Atlanta Memorial Hospital (1995-2001). She was a member of First Baptist Church of Frankston.

Mrs. Jones was preceded in death by her husband, Joffre Jones; parents, Leo Marshall Alexander and Zema Brower; and brothers, Thurman and Norman Alexander.

She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Marshall and Tracy Jones of Longview, TX; daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Benny Douglas of Frankston; four grandchildren, Kelly Jones of Central, SC; Marshall, Cody and Michelle Jones of Longview; and great grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Shelton Calvert, John Bragg, David Brown, Don Paul Shepherd, Rick Stewart, Dr. Roland Young, Gordan Cone and Sam Donaldson.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Frankston or Hospice of East Texas.

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