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.)

Lela Estelle Dixon Corder

Lela Estelle Dixon Corder of LaRue, passed away on May 31, 2016, at the age of 93.

Corder was born in 1923 south of LaRue to Stanley and May Thrasher Dixon, the second of five children.

She attended school at New York Public School and graduated from LaPoynor High School in 1941.

On August 29, 1942, she married Sgt. Claude A. Corder, also of Henderson County, in Reno, NV.

As a military wife, she lived in Sacramento, CA, Fort Worth, Puerto Rico, Mobile, AL, Midwest City, OK, and Abilene, TX, and after her husband’s retirement from the Air Force, in Oklahoma City, Dallas, Athens, and finally LaRue.

In addition to being the busy mother of three children, Sandra, Stephen, and Janice, she was active in church work, most notably as a Sunday school teacher of three and four year olds.

In addition, she did teacher workshops for Sunday school teachers in Texas and Oklahoma, including several workshops at Abilene Christian College.

Returning to Henderson County, she became active in the Henderson County Historical Commission, serving as the chairperson for four years; the Henderson County Historical Society was formed during her first month as chairperson for the purpose of purchasing the Faulk-Gauntt store, which is now the Henderson County Historical Museum.

During her tenure as chairperson, the first book on the families of Henderson County was published, and she and her husband made records of several cemeteries, sharing that information with the commission and society.

She became an expert on the research and documentation required for the placement of Texas historical markers and is therefore responsible for a number of markers being placed in the county; she was most proud of the markers at the Henderson County Courthouse, the New York Store for Davis Reynolds, the New York Baptist Church, and the New York Cemetery.

She did the research and wrote the history of the Bush Wofford house, which was moved to Athens, restored, and made a feature of the Arboretum, where it is used for weddings and other celebrations, it also has a historical marker.

Acknowledged as an authority on county history, she became the resource for many researchers and for years wrote the “Yesteryears” column for the Athens Review.

In addition, she did research on the genealogy of the Corder family, becoming the national authority and resource for other Corder genealogists. She also served on the Virginia Hill Water Board for 33 years.

She is pre-deceased by her husband Claude, her parents, brother J. R., sister Thelma Dixon Harvey, and grandson Michael Simpson.

Survivors include Sandra Corder Stephenson and husband Lee, Stephen Corder, Janice Corder Simpson; grandchildren Christopher Corder and wife Paige, David Simpson and wife Patti, Elizabeth Barnhill Hagan and husband James, Alison Barnhill; great-granddaughter Molly Corder; brother H. L. Dixon, sister Edith Yvonne Welch and husband H. G. and nephews and nieces.

Visitation was held at Carroll-Lehr in Athens from 4 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 4, and the funeral service was held at LaPoynor Church of Christ on June 5 with Steve Handley officiating. Burial followed at Myrtle Springs Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to the Sister Patricia Orphanage in India, c/o LaPoynor Church of Christ, P O Box 61, LaRue, TX 75770.

Margie Laverne Smith

A funeral service for Margie Laverne (Hoffman) Smith, 86, of Frankston, was held Monday, May 9, 2016, at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston. She was laid to rest at Frankston City Cemetery.

Mrs. Smith went to live in her eternal home, May 6, 2016.

She was born September 11, 1929, in Frankston to Homer and Sallie Belle (Cook) Hoffman.

Her passion was caring for others as evidenced in her profession as an LVN for over 30 years. It was also shown in her love of family which was the most important thing in her life.

Margie attended Chandler Christian Fellowship Church.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband Lewis Smith; sons Stephen Smith, Donald Smith; sisters Avalene “Madge” Worlow, Verba Joyce Holly; brothers Billy Carlton Hoffman, Bob Wesley Hoffman; and grandson Robert G. Wells.

Survivors include her daughters, Linda B. (Smith) Wells and husband Glen of Springtown, Kay (Smith) Sheeley and husband Terry of Frankston; daughter-in-law Peggy (Milner) Smith of Brownsboro; brothers Lewis (Bubba) Hoffman of Longview, H. Gaylon Hoffman and wife Peggy of Palestine; sisters-in-law Gwen Hoffman of Frankston, Dorothy Hoffman of Bullard; nine grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, three great great-grandsons; several nieces and nephews; and special friends, Troy and Gina Frasier of Frankston

Pallbearers were her grandsons and great-grandsons.

The family would like to thank the staff of the Frankston Nursing and Rehabilitation facility for the love and care that they have provided for the last 14 months.

Martha Drew Howell

Martha Drew Howell fought a long hard battle with COPD but lost her fight at East Texas Hospice in Tyler on June 5, 2016. She was 73 years old.

She was born September 14, 1942, in Tyler, to Roma and Idus Drew.

She married the love of her life, David W. Howell Sr., on March 15, 1963.

David senior passed away Dec. 6, 2012.

They had three children including Rita Deckert (Mike) of Frankston, Donna Garrow (Bill) of Frankston. Their son, David W. Howell Jr. passed away Jan. 19, 2012.

She was prideful in her grandchildren Maegan Deckert, Logan Deckert and Samantha Garrow Emanuel (Zach). Her two great-grandchildren C J Ervin and Ryleigh Emanuel were joys to her.

She is also survived by brother William Drew from Winona and a host of nieces and nephews including niece Dana Raley Sewell (Chuck) of Broussard, LA and great niece Joyce Raley Carter (James) of Round Rock.

Her beloved sister Bobbye Raley and nephew Matt Raley proceeded her in death.

Martha lived most of her life in Tyler and Frankston. She worked all her life. She loved to refinish old furniture and give it new life.

Her greatest love was her beloved dogs. Her compassion for animals was only matched by her passion for her children. She always gave more than she had.

Over the years she had a few CNA’s come in her life that made her laugh and get through the struggles. We would like to say a special thank you to Natalie McKenzie and Amber Mackey of East Texas Hospice of Tyler.

Mom also cared a great deal for Bethany Starks and Shannon Gilbert of ETMC-Flint. They gave such care to Mom.

Mom’s wishes were to be cremated and join David Senior and David Junior in the resting spot at Liberty Hill cemetery.

A memorial will be planned at a later date.

Howell would prefer people donate to their local animal shelter or East Texas Hospice of Tyler.

Anita Pareti

On June 27, 2016, at 5:30 p.m., Anita Kay Buck Pareti died at Villa Maria Healthcare Center with Central Coast Hospice services in Santa Maria, Calif. after a short battle with Hemiplegic, Hemi paresis and unspecified cerebral vascular disease.

She was 72 years old. She was born October 21, 1943, in Ada, Okla.

She was the daughter of the late C.W. Buck and Juanita Brown Buck of Taft, Calif. She was the mother of Sheryl Pareti Hocutt of Frankston, and the late Kaylene Yvonne Pareti of Bakersfield, Calif.

The grandmother of Kishi Pareti of Bakersfield, Calif. and Nathan and Aidan Dsouza of Frankston. Sister of Jim Buck of Bakersfield, and Ronnie Buck of Arizona and the late Peggy Robertson of San Luis Obispo, Calif. and the late Forest Buck of MO.

She was the beloved future mother-in-law to Stefan Lambert and honorary step-grandmother of Steven Lambert both of Bakersfield.

She was the beloved granddaughter of the late Reginald and Voisie Brown of Taft.

She is also survived by a few aunts, uncles and many cousins and friends. She graduated from Taft High School in 1960.

She worked various jobs but retired as a bus driver for Gulfport, MS ISD in 1998. She lived in Santa Maria, Calif. and she was active member of the Jehovah‘s Witness Congregation in Santa Maria.

She enjoyed reading her Bible, sewing, crocheting and creating beautiful wedding cakes and wedding gowns.

She loved oldies music, traveling and meeting new people.

She cherished spending time with her grandson and friends. She will forever be remembered for her strong faith in Jehovah, kindness, strong will, bright smile and abundant laughter.

Her daughter, grandchildren, family and friends love and miss her today, tomorrow and forever more.

A private celebration of her life will be set a later date.

To view her online obituary in her hometown go to: www.bakersfieldfunerals.com.

You can contact the family on Sheryl Dsouza Hocutt’s Facebook page. Donations can be made at go fund me to help family cover final expenses, https://www.gofundme.com/mu5tntgg.

Kaylene Pareti

On June 13, 2016, at 8:45 p.m., Kaylene Yvonne Pareti died in Hoffman Hospice Center after a short battle with brain cancer.

She was 37 years old.

She was born January 21, 1978, in Taft, Calif.

She was the daughter of Anita Buck Pareti of Santa Maria and Alfred and Sandra Pareti of Slidell, La.

She was the sister of Sheryl Pareti Hocutt of Frankston, David Lopinto of Slidell, La. and the late Peter Lopinto of NY.

She was the mother of Kishi Pareti of Bakersfield, Calif.

She was the beloved best friend, life partner and fiancé’ of Stefan Lambert and honorary step-mom of Steven Lambert both of Bakersfield, Calif.

She was the beloved granddaughter of the late Alfred and Margery Pareti of Waveland, Miss. and the late Columbus and Juanita Buck of Taft, Calif.

She is also survived by many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.

She graduated from Gulfport High School in 1997.

She worked various jobs, but recently worked as personal assistant, as an extra in a documentary movie and a homemaker.

She enjoyed reading, music, movies, antique cars and cooking. She loved Harry Potter.

She was working on the final draft of her first fictional civil war novel. She hoped to write a series of sequels to this story.

She cherished spending time with her family and friends. She will forever be remembered for her kindness, unselfish, compassionate, fearlessness, bright smile and abundant laughter.

Her parents, siblings, fiancé and sons love and miss her today, tomorrow and forever more. She was their sweet angel.

A private celebration of her life was held on Saturday June 18, 2016, at her Uncle Jimmy Buck's home in Bakersfield.

You may contact the family for more information at Sheryl Dsouza Hocutt’s facebook page or the online obituary at www.bakersfieldfunerals.com .

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