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.)
Judy Dugan
Judy Dugan, loving mother and grandmother, passed away Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019 in Frankston.
A funeral service was scheduled at 11 o’clock in the morning, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2019 at Autry Funeral Home in Frankston. Bro. George Folmar officiated. Mrs. Dugan was laid to rest at Frankston City Cemetery.
Visitation wase on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019 from 6 to 8 o’clock in the evening at Autry Funeral Home, Frankston.
Judy was born Aug. 17, 1944 in Atlanta, TX to Willie James and Mary Lou (Henderson) Richards.
She loved the Lord, her family and was as a member of Light House Baptist Church. Judy enjoyed football and was a Dallas Cowboys fan.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brother and sister-in-law, Joe and Avice Richards; and brother-in-law, Jack Sullivan.
Left to cherish her memory are her children, Tonya Ramirez and husband Roy of Frankston, Marni Michelle Delacerda Cox and husband George of Terrell; and sister, Meda Lou Sullivan of Atlanta, TX. She is also survived by her grandchildren Chris, Laura, Jordan, Alyson, and Coley; and great-grandchildren Olivia, Austin, Caylee, Jaeden, Emma and Julian and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers were Chris Ramirez, Mike Richards, David Stephens, Randy Sullivan, Jordan Meshell and Dustin Martin. Honorary pallbearers were Gary Walker, Ricky Sullivan and Casey Sullivan.
Millie Ballard
Millie Ballard, born Sept. 4, 1925 to Roy and Mary Curtis, passed away the day before her 94th birthday.
A funeral service was scheduled at 3 o’clock in the afternoon Saturday, Sept. 7, 2019 at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston. Visitation was at 2 p.m. She was laid to rest at Frankston City Cemetery.
Millie was a member of Assembly of God Church in Frankston. She served for many years as an assistant at the Frankston Depot Library.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Curtis Ballard and a son, Michael Curtis Ballard.
Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Joe Duane Ballard and wife Pat of Nashville, TN and Robert Carl Ballard of Winchester, VA. She is also survived by her grandchildren Eric Ballard, Phoebe Ballard, Mason Ballard and great-grandchildren Shaun, Mikayla and Madox Ballard.
Ruth Margaret Collie Hightower
Ruth Margaret Collie Hightower passed from this life into the arms of her loving father on Sept. 14, 2019, in Tyler, at the age of 92, after her body surrendered to the cancer she had bravely fought for numerous months.
A service in celebration of her life was held at 10 o’clock in the morning on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019 at First United Methodist Church in Jacksonville, under the direction of Autry Funeral Home. Rev. Jack Albright, Rev. Doug Wintermute, and Rev. Barbara Hugghins officiated. She was laid to rest at Resthaven Memorial Cemetery.
She was born to John Hosea and Alta Cole Collie on Feb. 2, 1927 in Frankston.. She graduated from high school in 1944, married Burtis Hightower and moved to Jacksonville where she continued to reside for over 75 years.
Margaret first worked at Wood Drug. She was employed at the Liberty Hotel for numerous years, first as hostess, and then promoted to assistant manager, and later to manager. She and her family also lived there for a period of time. Margaret was also employed at Gulf States Pollution Control (Leavesley Industries), Holiday Inn and Lon Morris College, retiring in 1989. She later did alterations out of her home for many years.
In addition to work, she led an active life through the age of 91. As a member of First United Methodist Church for over 46 years, she served as President of Alpha Omega Sunday School Class for many years and volunteered for Shared Table. She also worked with Barbara Hugghins, then associate pastor, planning trips for Primetimers. She was a former member of Business and Professional Women’s Club, United Methodist Women, HAPY Girls, Fun Travelers, was a volunteer at Love’s Lookout Visitor’s Center, HOPE and on the Board of the Jacksonville Library.
She met a group of friends every week for Sunday lunch and then another day for hamburgers. Margaret had a special pound cake recipe that she baked for many years and had many requests to carry it to group functions.
Margaret was preceded in death by her husband, Burtis Hightower in 1969, a precious grandson Steven Hightower in 1973, her parents, her sisters Beth Ballew Beasley, Ann Clark Garner, her brothers John Collie, Jr., Oliver Collie and two nephews Freddy Collie and Mike Clark.
She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Left to cherish her memory and all of who were dearly loved, are her children, James A. Hightower and wife Rita, Billy Hightower, Kim Hightower Gillard Fade and husband Dennis. She was “Mimi” to grandchildren Amy Hightower Wood (Gary), Kelly Hightower Lawless (Jason), Kevin Hightower (Christi), Lukas Hightower and Mandy and Ashleigh Gillard. She was”Great-Grand Mimi” to great-grandchildren Christopher (Kelly) and Michael (Holly) Wood, Jordan and Kaleigh Lawless, Gavin and Layton Hightower, Paisleigh Whitehead and Rhyder Daniels
Other loved ones left to cherish her memory are Thresa Hightower, Stephen Gillard, Kelli Kreig, numerous nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and also many friends. She stated she was happiest when all of her family came to her home for holidays.
Serving as pallbearers were Jeff Clark, John Mark Lester, Phil Waller, Dick Stone, Stephen Gillard and James Gillard. Honorary Pallbearers were Charles Broadway, George Griffin, Al Shapiro, Gene Stolze and LeRoy Brooks.
The family would like to extend special thanks to Hospice of East Texas for their graciousness and care.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of East Texas and First United Methodist Church of Jacksonville.
Ruby Waldrum
Ruby Waldrum was born Jan. 28, 1934 to John and Burdetta Rosetta Worsham,and passed away Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019 in Rusk. She was 85 years old.
A funeral service was scheduled at 11 o’clock in the morning Wednesday, Oct. 2, 2019 at Hilltop Baptist Church in Frankston. Rev. Ron Ivy and Rev. George Folmar officiated. Mrs. Waldrum was laid to rest at Wofford Cemetery in Frankston. Services were under the direction of Autry Funeral Home in Frankston.
Visitation was on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2019 from 6 to 8 o’clock in the evening at Autry Funeral Home, Frankston.
Ruby was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star #1113 of Frankston.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husbands, Lee T. Green Jr. and Everett Waldrum and sister, Kitten Stevens.
Left to cherish her memory are her son, Lee T. Green III and wife Barbra; and stepson, Randy Waldrum and wife Sharon. Her siblings are John Worsham, Francine Barksdale, Amanda Witt and Jessie Raye Compton. She is also survived by four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Bill Harden, Keith McKinney, Gordon Folmar, Wayne Bristow, Keith Bristow, Scotty Rogers, Craig Dansby and Jayson Pittman with honorary pallbearer Max Beard.
(Obituaries posted contain information posted by funeral homes and/or families. Families may request changes or additions, if appropriate or required.)
Judy Dugan
1944-2019
Millie Ballard
1925-2019
Ruth Margaret Collie Hightower
1927-2019
Ruby Waldrum
1934-2019
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