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.)

Alvis Wayne Montrose

Alvis Wayne Montrose, beloved husband and father, passed away peacefully at his home, July 6, 2016.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia, two sisters, one brother and a grandson. He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by four children, Larry Montrose and wife Linda, Paulette “Lori” Johnson, Arthur “Bud” Montrose and wife Sandra, and Daniel Montrose and wife Keva; seven grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; six siblings; and many nieces and nephews.

He and his wife married June 1, 1963, until her death in 2013. He served in the Navy from 1959 until 1974 and worked as the welding instructor at TVCC for 35 years. An accomplished welder, electrician, gunsmith, blacksmith and scholar, he held seven master degrees. The list of his accomplishments goes on and on. He could turn his hand to almost anything and do it well.

Graveside services were held Saturday, July 9, 2016, at Foster Cemetery South of Poynor, near his home. Services were under the direction of Autry Funeral Home in Frankston.

Barbara Jean Burks

Barbara Jean (Ms. Barbara) Burks passed away peacefully at her home on July 6, 2016.

Barbara was born to Fred L. and Burtis M. Henley on April 9, 1938, in the small community of Kickapoo, southeast of Frankston.

She attended Frankston schools and graduated from Frankston High School in 1956. She attended Lon Morris College in Jacksonville, East Texas Baptist University in Marshall and graduated from East Texas State University in Commerce in 1960 earning a bachelor of science degree in elementary education.

On August 12, 1960, she was married to Gerald L. (Jerry) Burks of Frankston and they established their home in Jacksonville.

Her first job in Jacksonville was as a private tutor. At the beginning of the next year she was employed as an elementary teacher in the New Hope Common School District west of Jacksonville. She continued her employment there until the birth of her second son. She remained at home for several years and was then asked to join Bunny Beall in establishing the Christian Day School at the Evangelical Methodist Church in Jacksonville. She remained at Christian Day School until she opened Happy Days Christian Preschool and Kindergarten in 1984. She operated Happy Days until 2007 when bad health forced her to retire. She spent her remaining years loving her family and trying to keep up with the progress of all her “adopted children” that she influenced during her lifetime.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her father-in-law and mother-in-law, J. Louie and Mary Lee Burks.

She is survived by her husband Gerald L. (Jerry) Burks of Jacksonville; sons Dr. Scott Burks and wife Carrie of Hattiesburg, MS and Tim Burks of Frankston; grandsons Jonathan and Andrew Burks of Hattiesburg, MS; sister Beverly Beard of Frankston; brother-in-law Johnny Burks and wife Judy of Frankston; nephews Spencer Beard and wife Janisue of Frankston, Greg Beard and wife Becky of Frankston, Gary Beard and wife Margo of Athens, Dr. Bill Westbrook and wife Rhonda of Longview, Steve Westbrook and wife Sandra of Brenham; nieces Susan Beard and husband Kevin of Frankston, Stephanie Brink and husband Mack of Dallas and a host of great-nieces and great-nephews.

Pallbearers were Jonathan Burks, Andrew Burks, Jeff Austin, Jr., Ronnie Lee, Sonny Perry, and Rodney Wofford.

Honorary pallbearers were members of the Laureate Iota Rho Sorority, Goodfellows Bible Class of Central Baptist Church, ETMC Coffee Group, Frank Waggoner, Charles Creed, Frank Goodson and John Thigpen.

Services were held Saturday, July 9, 2016, at Central Baptist Church in Jacksonville with Steve Edwards and J.A. Griffin officiating.

She was laid to rest at Frankston City Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville.

Rather than customary condolences, it is suggested that contributions be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN or a charity of your choice.

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