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.)

John D. Saunders

Funeral services for John D. Saunders, 81, of Frankston were held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 27, at the United Methodist Church in Frankston, with the Rev. Kevin King officiating.

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

Mr. Saunders died Wednesday, Jan. 25, in a Jacksonville hospital.

He was born Feb. 8, 1919 in Frankston.

Mr. Saunders was a retired banker. He worked several years with First State Bank, Frankston, and was former Chairman of the Board at East Texas National Bank in Palestine.

Mr. Saunders was a member of United Methodist Church in Frankston and served in the U.S. Army during World War II.

Survivors include a sister-in-law, Virginia Saunders of Jacksonville; a nephew, Richard Saunders and wife, Pat, of Frankston; nieces, Janis Prior and husband, Larry of Rusk, and Dee Ann Dalton and husband, Steve of Belleview, Neb.

Pallbearers were Dana Bizzell, Joe Hefner, Jesse Smith Jr., Ronny Smith, Mike Stanley and Kent Stanley.

Honorary pallbearers were Terry Bacon, Herbert Riley, Lella Tipton, Jim Crook, Bob Harrell and Jerry Boles.

C.C. "Bud" Morton

Funeral services for C.C. "Bud" Morton, 83, of Poynor were held at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26, in the Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with Rev. Jeff Godwin and Rev. Fred Neal officiating.

Burial was in the Poynor Cemetery.

Mr. Morton died Wednesday, Jan. 24, in a Frankston nursing home.

He was born Feb. 2, 1917 in Fair Oaks.

Mr. Morton was a retired farmer and rancher and former Mayor and City Councilman in Poynor. He was a member of Poynor Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Emma V. "Jinks" Morton; a son and daughter-in-law, Clarence and Dorothy Morton of Berryville; a daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn and Bob Walker of Poynor; brothers, Jack Morton of Carthage, Horace Morton of Poynor, and Donald Ray Morton of Donie; a sister, Claudette Williams of San Antonio; eight grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Bobby Walker, Carey Walker, Cindy Owens, Clay Morton, Patricia Clifton, Shelly Vaughn, Cyndy Walker and Christy Morton.

Honorary pallbearers were Dr. Douglas Curran, Robert Magee, Lloyd Hanks and Dan Wicker.

Memorials may be made to Poynor Baptist Church Building Fund or March of Dimes.

Jesse Tolly

Funeral services for Jesse Tolly, 81, of Poynor were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 27 in Renfro Memorial Chapel in Jacksonville with Rev. Debra Dean and Minnie Bell officiating.

Burial was in Poynor Cemetery under direction of Boren-Conner Funeral Home, Jacksonville.

Mr. Tolly died Wednesday evening, Jan. 24, in Athens.

He was born Feb. 1, 1919 in Greenville. He had lived in this area for 31 years.

Mr. Tolly was of the Methodist faith and was a rancher and sawmiller.

He was preceded in death by a son, Lawrence Edward Tolly; and a step son, Edward Williford.

Survivors include his wife, Mary Jo Tolly of Poynor; two sons, Richard Eugene Tolly of Huntington and Rex Harlin Tolly of Leggett; one daughter, Tina Renee Tolly of Poynor; one step daughter, Ellen Talkowski of Ironwood, Mich.; two sisters, Louise Wheeler of Emory and Dorothy Bell of Longview; 15 grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Robert Magee, Tommy Sharp, John Pagitt, Clyde Bell, Herbert Riley and W.L. Bristow.

Honorary pallbearers were Lloyd Grayson, Tommy Sharp Jr, Richard M. Tolly and Thomas Grayson.

Luther Cameron Sr.

LARUE- Graveside services for Luther M. Cameron Sr., 79, LaRue, were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, at Myrtle Springs Cemetery, near LaRue, with Rev. Richard Kergen officiating, under direction of Foster & Brown Funeral Home, Athens.

Mr. Cameron died Sunday, Jan. 28, in Athens.

He was born March 2, 1921, to the late George and Josephine Hopkins Cameron.

Mr. Cameron was a Baptist.

Survivors include sons, Luther Cameron Jr., Dallas, Buford Cameron, LaRue, Dan Cameron, Rosser, and Ricky Cameron, Wilmer; daughters, Rose Larimore, Brownsboro, and Shire Evans, LaRue; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Dorothy Lee Butler

Funeral services for Dorothy Lee Butler, 85, of Poynor were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 7, at First Baptist Church in Poynor with Rev. Jeff Godwin officiating.

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

Mrs. Butler died Monday, Feb. 5, at her residence.

She was born Sept. 9, 1915 in Poynor and lived there all her life.

Mrs. Butler was a member of First Baptist Church, Poynor, where she was a Sunday School teacher.

Survivors include her husband of 62 years, Milton Butler, of Poynor; daughters, Mary Jane Butler of Poynor, and Linda Sue Giles and husband, Gary of Hurst; brothers, Lowell Bristow of Poynor and John Bristow of New Harmony; sisters, Helen Bruton and Patsy Holcomb, both of Poynor, and Anita Forester of LaRue; grandsons, Brent Giles and wife, Dawn of Hurst, Kent Giles of Dallas and Lance Giles of Hurst; great grandsons, Benjamin and Matthew Giles of Hurst; many nieces, nephews and many friends.

Pallbearers were George Mixon, Leon Hardman, Robert Magee, Buster Stringfield, Bobby Holcomb, Wayne Gideon and Clarence Morton.

Margie Arlene Fortenberry

Graveside services for Margie Arlene Fortenberry, 76, of Jacksonville were held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, in the Frankston Cemetery, with Rev. Kevin King officiating.

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

Mrs. Fortenberry died Tuesday, Feb. 6, in a Jacksonville nursing home.

She was born May 30, 1923 near Frankston. She graduated from Frankston High School and Southwestern Business University of Houston.

Mrs. Fortenberry was associated with and worked for the Girl Scouts of America as a full charge bookkeeper, secretary and office manager until her retirement in 1972.

She was a member of United Methodist Church, Frankston.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 42 1/2 years, Carl Erwin Fortenberry; three brothers, Bruce S. Herrington, Roy Frank Herrington and William Travis Herrington; her parents, Frank and Lucia Herrington; and father and mother-in-law, Carl and Stella Fortenberry.

Survivors include a brother, Tony Herrington of Frankston; a sister, Thelma Terrell of Bullard; and several nieces and nephews.

Effie Boles Williamson

Funeral services for Effie Marie Boles Williamson, 84, Tyler, were held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, at Lloyd James Funeral Home Chapel in Tyler.

Burial was in Frankston City Cemetery.

Mrs. Williamson died Thursday, Feb. 1.

She was born Oct. 22, 1916 in Henderson County to the late Jerry and Rossie Boles.

Mrs. Williamson moved to Tyler in 1948 and worked as a seamstress at several Tyler businesses. She also was co-owner/operator of Clint's Cabinet Shop from 1953 to 1998.

She was a longtime member of Central Baptist Church.

Mrs. Williamson was preceded in death by her husband, Clenton Williamson in August 2000; brothers, Robert Boles and Les Boles; and sisters, Pearl McLearen and Ida Williamson.

Survivors include a daughter, Sharon Cromer, Tyler; a son, C. Leon Williamson, Bryan; a sister, Pauline Hollingsworth, Tom Bean; four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Ronnie Smelley, John Evans, Belton Williamson, David Stelter, Nathan Williamson and Clifford Williamson.

Pauline Stringer

Funeral services for Pauline Stringer 88, Frankston, were held at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 4, at Gipson-Metcalf Funeral Home chapel in Lufkin, with the Rev. J.A. Griffin and Don Campbell officiating.

Burial was in Huntington Cemetery.

Mrs. Stringer died Wednesday, Jan. 31, in a Tyler hospital.

She was born Nov. 10, in Angelina County to the late Preston and Francis Taylor Fuller.

She was a homemaker and member of Frankston Assembly of God. Formerly of Freeport, she had resided in Frankston for four years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John T. Stringer in 1973; daughter, Nellie Frances Stringer; and grandson, Preston Wayne Stringer.

Survivors include sons, Preston Stringer, Jacksonville, and John Wayne Stringer, Houston; five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and other relatives.

Pallbearers were Marvin Ponder, Phillips Ponder, Norman Ponder, Tommy Stover, Michael Ponder, David Dickson, Jeff Hooper and John Curtis Stringer.

Lorene Tharp Salmon

Funeral services for Josie Lorene LaRue Tharp Salmon, 89, were held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, in the First Baptist Church, Frankston with the Rev. Louie Barron and the Rev. J.A. Griffin officiating.

Burial was at the Frankston City Cemetery under direction of Thompson Funeral Home, Frankston.

Mrs. Salmon died Wednesday, Feb. 7, in Tyler.

She was born Oct. 29, 1911 in Wood County.

Mrs. Salmon was formerly an instructor at a beauty school, and owner/operator of Strand Cafe in Frankston. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Frankston.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Salmon.

Survivors include her son, Tommy Tharp of Evansville, Ind.; daughters, Yvonne L. Knowles of Frankston and Fran Carter of Wills Point; a sister, Wyona Faye Womble of Breckenridge; six grandchildren, William Henry Johnson III, Stacy Masten, Donnell Ray Tharp Jr., James Lee Knowles, Denise Kockendorff and Karol Buckhalter; eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Donnell Ray Tharp Jr., Scott Masten, William Henry Johnson III, James Lee Knowles, Marvin R. Thompson and Rex Thompson.

Glenda Ellen Magee Bednorz

Funeral services for Glenda Ellen Magee Bednorz, 64, of North Zulch were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 18, at J.M. Day Funeral Home with Rev. Dean Ferguson officiating. Services were also held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, at Friendship Church in the Blackfoot Community with Rev. Bud Magee officiating.

Burial was at Rock Church Cemetery in Blackfoot under direction of J.M. Day Funeral Home of Madisonville.

Mrs. Bednorz was born Aug. 15, 1936 , daughter of Robert Nathan and Bennie Charlean (Rhodes) Magee.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church in North Zulch.

Mrs. Bednorz lived in North Zulch for 19 years and painted oil landscapes all her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

She is survived by her daughters, Sharon Bednorz of Merit, Katharyn Whitaker of Madisonville and Rhonda Santiago of Yoakum; sons, Darrell Bednorz of Victoria, Chris Bednorz of North Zulch and Jason Bednorz of North Zulch; Johnnie Bednorz, father of their children, of Yorktown; sisters, Rebecca Glenn of Bullard, Peggy Smith of Centerville and Florine Mason of Palestine; brother, Robert Magee of Poynor; 10 grandchildren and many other relatives and friends.

S. R. Blackmon

Funeral services for S.R. Blackmon, 80, of Baytown were held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 12, in the Oak Grove Assembly of God Church, Fred, Tex. with the Rev. Wayne Watts officiating.

Burial was at the Baker-Bell Cemetery of Fred under direction of Navarre Funeral Home, Baytown.

Mr. Blackmon died Friday, Feb. 9, in Baytown.

He was born Jan. 15, 1921 in Blooming Grove.

Mr. and Mrs. Blackmon retired to Holiday Hills in 1986 and returned to Baytown in Dec. 1997 for health reasons.

Mr. Blackmon is survived by his wife of almost 60 years, Dorothy Raines Blackmon of Baytown; a brother, J.O. Blackmon of Mesa, Ariz.; three sons and daughter-in-laws, Glynn and Troylene Blackmon of Baytown, Randy and Susan Blackmon of LaPorte and Tim and Susie Blackmon of Holiday Hills; 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

Robert H. Farmer Jr.

Graveside services for Robert H. Farmer Jr., 91, of Frankston were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, in the Frankston City Cemetery with Bro. Jim Humphries officiating.

Mr. Farmer died Sunday, Feb. 18, in Tyler.

He was born Jan. 10, 1910. Mr. Farmer was a retired shipyard worker.

Survivors include his wife, Mamie E. Farmer of Frankston; and several nieces and nephews.

Malyn Tierce

Funeral services for Malyn Tierce, 83, of Deer Park were held at 1 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15, at the chapel of Deer Park Funeral Directors, Deer Park.

Burial was in Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso.

Mrs. Tierce was a graduate of Palestine High School. She was a former resident of El Paso and had lived in Frankston over 20 years.

Survivors include three daughters, Judy Squires of Deer Park, Jane Elrod of Gray Lake, Ill. and Jill Bappe of Waldport, Oregon; a brother, Harry Whitehurst of Frankston; seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

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