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.)

Emma Smith

Funeral services for Emma Bynum Smith, 86, of Frankston were held Saturday, January 27 at Hilltop Baptist Church, Berryville with Bro. Ron Ivey officiating under direction of Thompson Funeral Home, Frankston. Burial was in Wofford Cemetery.

Mrs. Smith passed away Tuesday, January 23.

She was born July 6, 1920 in Kingsville. She was a homemaker and former employee of Frankston Public Library. She was a member of Hilltop Baptist Church.

Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by husbands Seth Bynum and Howard Smith, and brothers Charlie William Bettge, Frank Bettge, Delmer Bettge and Elmer Bettge.

Survivors include a sister Ann Twist of Kingsville and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Bob Way, Brooks Beeler, Dale Bailey, Johnny Bailey, William Bettge and Logan Bailey.

Memorials may be made to Hospice Homeplace, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75701.

Ola Mae Gayle

Ola Mae Gayle, 88, of Frankston died Jan. 30 in Tyler.

Services were held Feb. 4 at Day Funeral Home Chapel, Madisonville with burial in High Prairie Cemetery.

Mrs. Gayle was born June 25, 1918, in the Mecca Community to Arthur and Clara C. (Tomlinson) Crow.

She married Carl Vivian Gayle on Jan. 30, 1937. Mrs. Gayle retired from Madison County Hospital Dietary Department in the early 1970s. She was a member of First Baptist Church and a nursery worker for ten years.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Alton Burtis and George Thomas Crow; sisters, Lillie Stewart and Lorene Roberts; and a granddaughter, Janice Ruth Wier.

Survivors include her daughter, Clarice Wier Caldwell of Frankston; sons and daughter-in-law, Walter Ray Gayle of Coldspring, Melvin Douglas Gayle of Houston, and Alton and Karen Gayle of Kingwood; 7 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and 2 great-great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.

Billy Wayne Little

Memorial services for Billy Wayne Little, 63, of Frankston, were held Feb. 3 at Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with Rev. George Folmar officiating, under direction of Thompson Funeral Home, Frankston.

Mr. Little died Feb. 1 at his residence.

He was born Nov. 10, 1943, in Houston. He built and serviced swimming pools and was the owner and operator of Dr. Waterworks. He served in the U.S. Air Force.

Survivors include his spouse, Linda Little of Frankston; step-sons Lee Wesley Hodges of Fayetteville, Jeffrey Hodges of Frankston, and Michael Wright of Mt. Vernon, Id.; daughter Eva Hanks of Flint; step-daughter Cecelia Rieken of Fayetteville; three grandchildren, Kristin Little, Clayton Hanks, and Halie Hanks, all of Flint; several nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers were Boyce Edridge, Brian Pevehouse, Jeff Hodges, Jeffrey Hodges, and Michael Wright.

Memorials may be made to East Texas Medical Center in Tyler.

R. L. Glaspy

Funeral services for R.L. “Skip” Glaspy, 64, of Athens were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10 in the chapel of the Cooper Funeral Home in Athens with J.A. Griffin officiating. Burial was in the Becks Chapel Cemetery.

He passed away Wednesday in Athens.

R. L. Glaspy was born Dec. 20, 1942 in Dallas, Texas to his parents, James and Marian Penn Glaspy.

He moved to Athens in 1964 and was employed as a driver for Tex-Pak for several years. He was also a former employee of Love Floral of Athens. “Skip “ Glaspy was an avid musician and was a member of the band “Hickory Hollow.” The Hickory Hollow Band is well known throughout Texas and held the championship title for several years at the Old Fiddlers Reunion. He was an accomplished musician of numerous string instruments including the guitar and mandolin. He enjoyed writing poetry and song lyrics, gardening and fishing.

Survivors include his wife, Belva Jean Glaspy of Athens; mother, Marian Louise Glaspy of Athens; brother and sister-in-law, Jimmy and Karina Glaspy of Branson, Missouri; sisters and brothers-in-law, Carlotta and Larry Wilson of Athens, Loretta and Butch Moon of Athens.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret Ann Strange.

Pallbearers included Jim Strange, Will Strange, Robert Frisbie, Johnny Thomas, Larry Wilson, William Strange and James Strange.

T. E. "Pete" Beard

Funeral services for T. E. "Pete" Beard, 80, of Frankston were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20, in the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home in Frankston with the Rev. J. A. Griffin officiating. Burial was in the Frankston City Cemetery.

Mr. Beard died Sunday, Feb. 18, at his residence.

He was born on Sept. 24, 1926, to Alex Thurman Beard and Winnie Mae Beard in Frankston. He worked in construction. Mr. Beard served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his father, Alex Thurman Beard; his

mother, Winnie Mae Welch Beard; and by his brother, Billy Jack Beard.

Survivors include his spouse, Beverly Beard of Frankston; three sons, Spencer and wife, Janisue Beard of Frankston, Greg and wife Becky Beard of Frankston, and Gary and wife, Margo Beard, of Athens; two brothers, T. L. Beard of Frankston and D. A. "Doodle" Beard and

wife, Betty, of Frankston; four sisters, Ruth Novalene Burris of Dallas, Betty Reese of Dallas, Mary Ann Randall of Dallas, and Gladys Overton and husband, Bill, of Bullard; two sisters-in-law, Francis Beard of Frankston and Barbara Burks and husband, Gerald, of Jacksonville; 10 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were David Smith, L. D. Dickerson, Tim Burks, James Beard, Jerry Beard, and Blake Bumbard.

Honorary pallbearers were Billy Bacon, Thomas Cook, Vernon Harton, Robert Henderson, and Terry Bacon.

Memorials may be made to the Frankston City Cemetery in Frankston.

Tracy Lee Reagan

Graveside services for Tracy Lee Reagan, 44, of Jacksonville were at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 19, at Jarratt Cemetery with the Rev. George Folmar and Rev. Don Harvey officiating. Burial was in Jarratt Cemetery under the direction of Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville.

Honorary pallbearers were the Berryville Volunteer Fire Department and volunteer firemen from surrounding counties.

Mr. Reagan died on Feb. 15 in Jacksonville. He was born on Aug, 15, 1962, in Jacksonville. He was a security guard. A member of Hilltop Baptist Church, Mr. Reagan was active in the Berryville Volunteer Fire Department.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Bonnie Joy Reagan, and his mother, Eula Jack Reagan.

Survivors include two brothers and a sister-in-law, Roger L. Reagan of Dialville, and Donald and Orlanda Reagan of Jacksonville; and three sisters and brothers-in-law, Wilma and James Taylor of Crockett, Doris Rodgers of Howell, and Judy and Joe Burton of Jacksonville.

Aubrey Eugene Sipes

Funeral services for Aubrey Eugene Sipes, 79, of Jacksonville and a lifelong resident of Texas were at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 21, at the First Baptist Church in Jacksonville with Pastor Vernon R. Lee officiating. Burial was in Resthaven Cemetery in Jacksonville under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home.

Mr. Sipes died Feb. 18 at Hospice of East Texas in Tyler.

He was born on April 24, 1927, in Dallas. At the age of 3, his family moved to East Texas. He served in the military between August 1945 and December 1948. He was stationed in the Marshall Islands and attained the rank of sergeant in the U.S. Air Corps. Mr. Sipes worked as an iron worker and welder. His craftsmanship can still be found all over Dallas and East Texas.

Mr. Sipes was a member of First Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Golden Jubilee, Jacks 'n Jills Square Dance Club and East Texas Medical Center Volunteer Auxiliary. He enjoyed wood and metal work and raising Confederate roses which he planted throughout East Texas.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Aleta Jo Brannon; parents, Richard and Jimmie Sipes, Brother, J.R. Sipes; and sisters, Una Witherspoon and Lola Barry.

Survivors include his wife, Jean Moody Sipes of Jacksonville; sons, Larry E. Sipes of Fountain, Colo., and Robert W. Sipes of Grand Saline; sister, Faye McNair of Dallas; step-sons, James Moody of Porter, and Joe Moody and wife, Anne, of Bullard, and Jackie Moody of Mt. Enterprise;

many grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.

Pallbearers include Alvin Coleman, Jim Eyre, Jack Williams, Gerald Gray, Jimmie Tankersley, and Kenneth Melvin. Honorary pallbearers include members of the ETMC Auxiliary. Memorials may be made to the ETMC Auxiliary.

Howard Neal Wegmet

Memorial services for Howard Neal Wegmet of Frankston were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17 at the United Methodist Church Family Life Center at Frankston, Texas with Robert Waldman and Doug Howell officiating. Services were under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home of Frankston.

Mr. Wegmet died Feb. 14 in Tyler, Texas.

He was born Dec. 26, 1921 in Independence Kansas to Joseph and Clarice Springer Wegmet. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1941 to 1961, retiring as a Lt. Commander. He first served as a Navy aviation radioman and after receiving his wings he served as an aircraft carrier pilot and saw combat off the coast of North Africa. Howard served on the USS Augusta, USS Midway, USS Princeton and USS Saratoga. He was one of only a few pilots who received their wings before becoming an officer entitling him to be a member of the Silver Eagles Enlisted Pilots Organization. He spent much of his later career training jet pilots. While in the service, he completed his education receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Tulane University.

From 1961 to 1982, he served the state of Texas, first as a schoolteacher in Jacksonville ISD and later as a pilot for Texas Railroad Commissioner Jerry Sadler and finally as a state oil and gas landman.

Mr. Wagner was a member of the Frankston United Methodist Church. He was active in the United Methodist Men and was a member of the Fellowship Class.

He is survived by his wife Dorothy Wegmet of Frankston, son Steve Wegmet and wife Lu of Jacksonville, daughter Clarice Kirksey and husband Hugh of Frankston, sister Marge Ramsey of Charleston, Illinois, granddaughter Kristin O’Brien of Frankston, and great-granddaughter Lauren O’Brien, step-son Richard Massey of Las Vegas, Nevada and his children Monty Massey, Nola Massey, Sammy Massey and Benjamin Massey, and step-daughter Terry Odom of Jacksonville and her children Adam Odom and Selena Odom.

If desired, memorials may be made to Hospice of East Texas 4111 University Blvd. Tyler, TX, 75701.

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