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.)

Wilma Jo Burgamy

POYNOR — Funeral services for Wilma Jo Burgamy, 89, civic leader and retired merchant of Poynor, were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, April 6, at the First Baptist Church, Poynor with Rev. Martin McRae, Jeff Godwin and Fred Neal officiating.

Burial was at the Poynor Cemetery with services under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home, Frankston.

Mrs. Burgamy died Monday, April 4, in a Tyler hospital.

She was born Aug. 6, 1915 in Poynor.

Mrs. Burgamy had owned a General Merchandise Store in Poynor and had served as Mayor of Poynor and City Council member. Mrs. Burgamy was a lifetime member of First Baptist Church, Poynor.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Barney Burgamy; and a cousin, Jeannie Thrasher Prescott.

Survivors include cousins, Barbara Westbrook Carter and Betty Rickard, both of Poynor, George Cramer and wife Patsy Thrasher Cramer of Dallas, Eula Mae Spoonts of Garland and Kathleen Shields of Lake Jackson; step grandchildren, Kaye Weeks of Frankston and Joe Burgamy of Poynor; and many other extended family and faithful friends.

Pallbearers were Joe Glenn Burgamy, Dr. Billy Westbrook, Steve Westbrook, Billy Don Douglas, Billy Joe Douglas, Jeff Rickard, Rufus Rickard and Keith Bristow.

Memorial donations may be made to the Poynor First Baptist Church Building Fund.

Lou Ella Baker

Funeral services for Lou Ella Baker, 88, of Bullard were held Saturday, April 2, at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Bullard, with Rev. Donny Barron and Rev. Kenny Cargill officiating.

Burial was in Bullard Cemetery under direction of Autry Funeral Home, Jacksonville.

Mrs. Baker died Thursday, March 31 in Tyler.

She was born March 12, 1917 in Cherokee County and was a former resident of Frankston. Mrs. Baker was a homemaker and a dairy farmer. She was a Baptist.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Baker; and a brother, Howell Robins.

Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-law, LaVerne and Laney Minton, Linda and Kenneth King, and Connie and Skeeter Harris, all of Bullard; three sisters, Lois Kuhlmanm of Bullard, Louise Phillips and Reba Morris, both of Tyler; a sister-in-law, Mildred Robins of Bullard; six grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren

Pallbearers were Ernest Phillips, Gaylon Kuhlmanm, Bill Robins, Arlin Harris, J.B. Ralson and A.W. Hines.

Minnie Dean ‘Sissie’ Bell

Funeral services for Minnie Dean “Sissie” Bell, 36, of Frankston were held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 5, at Thompson Funeral Home chapel in Frankston with Pastor Deborah Dean officiating.

Burial was in the Frankston City Cemetery.

Mrs. Bell died Friday, April 1, at her residence.

She was born Nov. 1, 1968 in Jacksonville. She was a housewife and active in church functions. Mrs. Bell was a member of Grace Family Bible Church in Frankston.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clyde H. Bell.

Survivors include her parents, Robert and Gearldine Henderson of Frankston; brothers and sisters-in-law, Bill and Cynthia Henderson, and Dino and Gina Henderson, all of Frankston; a sister and brother-in-law, Susan and Robert Walker of Frankston; one niece and three nephews.

Pallbearers were Carl House, Jerry Beard, B.J. Maueoules, Clayton Cribbs, Shane Cook and Roger Aills.

Aubrey McLaughlin Oikle

Aubrey McLaughlin Oikle, 75, of Frankston died Wednesday, March 30, in a Tyler hospital.

No services were scheduled at this time.

He was born Sept. 10, 1929 in Framington, N.H.

Mr. Oikle was a retired engineer at Bell Telephone Co. with 31 years of service. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.

Survivors include his wife, Alice Oikle of Frankston; sons, Glen Oikle of Waterman, Ill., Bruce Oikle of Grand Mound, Iowa, Mark Oikle of Lemont, Ill. and Kent Oikle of Downers Grove, Ill.; a daughter, Sandra Malahy of Clinton, Iowa; and a sister, Eileen Marcotte of Manchester, N.H.

Dorothy Tate

Funeral services for Dorothy Tate of Longview was held at 3 p.m. Friday, April 1, in the Welch Funeral & Memorial Center Garden Court with the Rev. Dewayne Beaty officiating.

Mrs. Tate died Tuesday, March 29, in a Palestine hospital.

She was born to Clarence E. and Dovie Caddell Scruggs in Lancaster.

Mrs. Tate was a member of First Baptist Church of Longview and Hannah Sunday School Class. She was a homemaker and very active in both the Boy and Girl Scouts.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Tate Jr. in 1993,

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Tom III and Teresa Tate of Little Elm; a daughter and son-in-law, Kathy and Dr. Larry Lummus of Bullard and Frankston; grandchildren, Christopher Lummus, Kelly Lummus, Sarabeth Tate and Samantha Tate; two step-grandchildren, two step great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 209 E. South St., Longview, TX 75602.

Joe McDonald Ayres

Joe McDonald Ayres, 83, of Houston died Wednesday, April 6, at home.

He was born December 9, 1921, in Frankston. He worked for Shell Pipeline in accounting for 35 years.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Elizabeth Ayres; daughters, Donna Ayres Williams of Gaithersburg, Md. and Carol Ayres of Houston; son-in-law Mark Williams; and granddaughters, Elizabeth Williams and Carolyn Williams.

Memorials may be made to the American Legion.

Elza W. Clark

Graveside services for Elza W. Clark, 67, of Frankston were held Monday, April 11, at 1 p.m. in the Bacon Family Cemetery near Frankston with Rev. J.A. Griffin officiating.

Mr. Clark died Friday, April 8, in Tyler.

He was born April 2, 1938 in Elkhart, and was a carpenter. Mr. Clark was a Baptist, served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5073.

He was preceded in death by a son.

Survivors include an uncle, Jim Clark of Holiday Hills; and a close friend, Terry Bacon of Frankston.

Pallbearers were Terry Bacon, Chuck Morris, Leslie Wells, Mack Powell, Charlie Caven and Jim Lenardson.

Florence Etheridge Larson

REESE — Funeral services for Florence Etheridge Larson, 95, of Reese, were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 10, at the Church of Christ in Frankston with John Thompson and Steve Handley officiating.

Burial was in the Reese Cemetery under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home, Frankston.

Mrs. Larson died Thursday, April 7, in a Jacksonville nursing home.

She was born July 30, 1909 in Reese. Mrs. Larson was a homemaker and co-owner of a general mercantile store, working side by side with her husband. She was a member of the Church of Christ.

Mrs. Larson was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Larson; five brothers and one sister.

Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Sherilyn and Larry Coker of Reese; a granddaughter, Kim Warlick and husband Brandon of College Station; a grandson, Joey Coker and wife, Leslie of Tyler; a sister, Lena Ray of Reese; a sister-in-law, Gwendolyn Lake of Reese; six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Robert Lee, Ron Lee, Rob Lee, Lewis Lake, Charles Etheridge and Ken Warlick.

Lloyd Martin

Funeral services for Lloyd Martin, 84, of Frankston were held at 3 p.m. Friday, April 8, at Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with the Rev. George Folmar officiating.

Burial was at Frankston City Cemetery.

Mr. Martin died Tuesday, April 5, at a Shreveport, La. hospital.

He was born June 7, 1920 in Arp. Mr. Martin was a retired commercial electrician and a greeter at Wal-Mart in Jacksonville. Mr. Martin served in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and was a member of the Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Masons and Scottish Rite.

Mr. Martin was preceded in death by his wife, Opal Martin; three brothers and one sister.

Survivors include his daughters, Florence Coukoulis and husband Theodore of Killeen, and Leona Neigut of Floresville; step-daughters, Pat Argo and husband Bob of Roanke, Judith Bell and husband Bob of Plano, and Charolett Gaddis and husband Al of Frankston; step-son, Don Howard and wife Deborah of Palestine; a sister, Twillie Lanham of Troup; grandchildren, Theo Coukoulis of Austin, Christina Kirk of Killeen, and Hollie Gaddis of Frankston; and numerous other grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and nieces and nephews

Memorials may be made to Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital of Dallas.

Elsie Sultemeier Atwood

Funeral services for Elsie Sultemeier Atwood, 88, of San Antonio were held Monday, April 18, at 8:30 a.m. at Porter Loring in San Antonio with Rev. Stanley Sultemeier officiating.

A graveside service was held at Frankston City Cemetery following the service in San Antonio. Arrangements were by Porter Loring Mortuaries in San Antonio.

She was the daughter of the late Herman and Lena Sultemeier of Post Oak.

Mrs. Atwood was preceded in death by five brothers and three sisters.

Survivors include a sister, Ollie Carr; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Joe McDonald Ayres

Joe McDonald Ayres, 83, of Houston died Wednesday, April 6, at home.

Burial was in the Frankston City Cemetery on Wednesday, April 13, at 1:30 p.m. Attending were his wife and daughters; his sister, Mary Skewes of Tyler; and his aunt, Marjorie Jones, also of Tyler.

He was born Dec. 9, 1921, in Frankston. He worked for Shell Pipeline in accounting for 35 years.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Elizabeth Ayres; daughters, Donna Ayres Williams of Gaithersburg, Md. and Carol Ayres of Houston; son-in-law Mark Williams; a sister, Mary Skewes of Tyler, and granddaughters, Elizabeth Williams and Carolyn Williams.

Memorials may be made to the American Legion.

Lewis Droby Jr.

Funeral services for Lewis Henry “Rusty” Droby Jr., 60, of Frankston were held at 11 a.m Thursday, April 21, at First Baptist Church in Neches, with the Revs. Charles Grasty and Ray Parton officiating under direction of Bailey & Foster Funeral Home, Palestine.

Mr. Droby died Thursday, April 14, at his residence.

He was born Oct. 28, 1944, in Palestine to Lewis Henry Sr. and Novas Ada Richards Droby.

Mr. Droby attended Lon Morris College and Stephen F. Austin State University. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Neches. He was a claims agent with Union Pacific Railroad.

Survivors include his wife, Phyllis Patton Droby, Frankston; a daughter, Lisa Drafahl of Crockett; a son, Paul Droby of Waco; a sister, Annetta Jet Emmons of Tyler; and five grandchildren.

Memorial may be made to Ronald McDonald House, local Welfare Board of Palestine or One Church One Child, 1197 Corley, Beaumont, 77701.

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