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.)

Betty Howell

Services for Betty Howell, 51, of Frankston will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 27 at Carpenter’s Cross Church with the Rev. Ron Ivey officiating.

Betty Howell passed away on Monday, Feb. 18, 2013 at East Texas Medical Center in Tyler.

She was born Sept. 25, 1961 and was a homemaker.

She is survived by her husband James Fred Howell of Frankston; two daughters Andrea Guthrie and son-in-law Walter Guthrie and their children Novali, Landon and Aliyah and Stephanie Howell and her son Jerrod Tate; two sisters Donna Jacobs and husband Jay Jacobs of Mt. Ida, Arkansas and Beverly Lott of Frankston; brothers Robert Smith and Wesley Smith, both of Tyler; and many nieces, nephews and other extended family members.

Cora Lillie

Funeral services for Cora B. Lillie, 95, of Frankston were held Wednesday at Tyler Memorial Funeral Home with Revs. Ron Ivey and George Folmar officiating.

Burial was held in Cedar Memorial Gardens in Mineola.

Mrs. Lillie was born on Dec. 19, 1917 in Wood County, Texas to Thomas Henry and Iva Williams Wren.

She passed away on Feb. 17, 2013 in Frankston.

Mrs. Lillie is survived by her sons Gerald Thomas Peterson of Frankston and Freddie Ray Peterson and wife Rosanne K. of Coupland;  many grandchildren and great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Lillie was preceded in death by her husband Jodie L. Lillie and six brothers and sisters.

Memorial donations may be made to Hilltop Baptist Church, special projects plan, 11269 HCR 4117, Frankston, TX 75763.

Travis Etheridge

Graveside services for Travis Etheridge, Col. USAF Ret., 83, of Reese are scheduled for 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, 2013 at the Reese Cemetery with full military honors.

Services are under the direction of Autry Funeral Home, Jacksonville.

Mr. Etheridge passed away Sunday, Feb. 17, 2013 in Jacksonville.

He was born May 21, 1929 in Reese. After attending Texas A&M, he enlisted in the United States Air Force shortly after its inception in August 1948. He was commissioned as an officer in the USAF in March 1950. He served as a pilot in the Korean War, flying 100 missions in F-80s. He served in Vietnam in 1970 as an inspector general at Mac V Headquarters, Saigon. He retired from the Air Force as a full Colonel in 1979.

After retiring from the Air Force, Travis was a rancher. He was affiliated with the Church of Christ.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Lester Lee Etheridge and Molly Jewel Reed Etheridge.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years Georgia Bossart Etheridge of Reese; sons Mark Etheridge and wife Claire of Murphy, TX, Gregory Etheridge and wife Peggy of Richardson, Lee Etheridge and wife Ginger of Rosharon, TX, Joseph Etheridge and wife Vickie of Virginia Beach, VA; daughter Patricia Spenla and husband Michael of Reese; sisters Margaret Tankersley and Peggy Jo Long both of Jacksonville; 16 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Grandsons will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb.. 21, 2013 at Autry Funeral Home in Jacksonville.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch, P.O. Box 1890, Amarillo, TX 79174-0001; Reese Cemetery Assn., 123 Dogwood Lakes Circle, Bullard, TX 75757; or charity of donor’s choice.

Barbara Ann Lott

Barbara Ann Lott departed this world and went to be with her Lord on Feb. 12, 2013 after a battle with lung cancer related problems.

The candle of life was extinguished on a true believer, a person wholly dedicated to Almighty God.

She was born Jan. 9, 1933 in Flour Bluff, a suburb of Corpus Christi.

The family moved to San Angelo, then to Riviera, Texas. She loved playing basketball and became the high-point girl on the team.

She married James Lott on March 6, 1953 in Kingsville, Texas. They had four children.

In 1960 they moved to Jacksonville. In 1972 she and James formed Faith, Hope and Charity Ministry and shared the Word throughout the United States  and Mexico. James also served as the Minister of Music at Frankston First Baptist Church for a number of years.

Barbara was known as “Bubbles” by her family and was preceded in death by her parents, a sister Delma and her brother Nard.

Survivors include her husband James E. Lott of Whitehouse; two sons Keith Edward Lott of Troup and Kyle Edwin Lott of Jackson, WY; two daughters Karen Lynette Lott of Tyler and Kandace Denise Martin of Plano; a sister Norma Owen of Corpus Christi; eight grandchildren; two great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were to be Hal Brunt, Jim Ferguson, Hershell Maynard, Joe Tomlin, Mike Lott and Matthew Trlica.

Services were held on Monday, Feb. 18 at Green Acres Baptist Church Chapel in Tyler.

Burial was in the Pinecrest Cemetery in Troup. Online condolences are available at www.cottlefuneralhome.com .

Gifts in memory of Barbara Lott may be made to Faith, Hope and Charity Ministry, 203 Tomlin Street, Whitehouse, TX 75791.

Willis ‘Stoney’ Burke

Funeral services for Willis “Stoney” Burke, 80, of Palestine were held Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013 at Cross Brand Cowboy Church in Tyler, under the direction of Autry Funeral Home.

Mike Morrow, Randy Bird and Mark Norman officiated.

Mr. Burke passed away peacefully Friday, Feb. 8, 2013 at his home.

He was born Nov. 4, 1932 in Frosie, TX.

Stoney was a lifelong cowboy and horse trainer. He rode saddle broncs, team roped and worked cattle all his life.

One of his great joys was sharing his knowledge of horses with children and seeing them love horses also.

Stoney loved his family and friends but his greatest desire was that everyone would come to know his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as their own.

He is preceded in death by his parents Dewayne and Ruby Crowson Burke; sons Wayne Burke and Gene Burke; sisters Mary Burke, Margaret Burke and Doris Green; and a grandson Daren Morris.

Survivors include his wife Leah Burke of Palestine; daughter Melanie Morris of Palestine; son Mark Krotky and wife Marsha of Cumby; grandchildren Clay and Rylee Krotky; great grandchildren Sabrina and Matthew Morris of Palestine; several nieces and nephews, including Sharon Green and special friend Linda Deas of Cumby.

Pallbearers were Kris Holman, Mike Barron, Allen Hughes, L.B. Cheshier, Dick Wood, Chip Williams, Rory Mills and Dennis Blackwell.

Honorary pallbearers were Kelsie Norman, Ty Tompkins, Dr. Marc Langas, Bill Harden, Billy Bacon, John Wilder, Justin Bolton, Greg McKeethan, Roy Westbrook and all member of Cross Brand Cowboy Church.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to The Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, TX 75701.

Jimmy Ray Lasha

Jimmy Ray “Big Jim” Lasha was born Sept. 8, 1941 in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana to the late Loyde Lonzo Lasha and Hattie Bell Cole Lasha. He passed away at the age of 71 on Feb. 5, 2013 in Frankston.

Big Jim had been a resident of Frankston for two years, formerly residing in Reeves, LA. He belonged to the full gospel ordination and was a member of New Life Praise and Worship in Tyler. He worked as a police officer for many years.

He was preceded in death by his brothers Robert, Larry and Raymond Lasha and a sister, Geraldine Lasha.

Survivors include his wife, Linda Lou Lasha of Frankston; five children Mary Elizabeth Wright, Cynthia Lou Myers,  Bonnie Lea Steel, Winston James Lasha and Dianne Kristine Guillory; grandchildren Stuart Leblue, Jordan Leblue, Matthew Lasha, Nicolett Myers, Destiny Guillory, Noah Guillory, Forest Steel, Angelina Steel, Jeremy Wright and April Wright; and four great grandchildren.

Leona Hanks

Funeral services for Leona Hanks, 94, of Poynor were held Monday, Feb. 4, 2013 at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with Elder Vernis Stanaland officiating.

Burial followed at the Poynor cemetery.

Mrs. Hanks passed away Friday, Feb. 1, 2013 in Jacksonville.

She was born Feb. 13, 1918 in Sweethome, TX to Jim and Millie Rosnosky.

Mrs. Hanks was a homemaker and a Primitive Baptist by faith.

She was preceded in death by her husband Vernon Hanks; sons Roger Wayne and Jim Hanks.

Survivors include daughters Nancy Campbell of Poynor and Vicky Deal and husband Gene of Poynor; seven grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Pallbearers were Eric Hanks, Jason Smith, Ben Haynes, Jacob Haynes, Dallas Jones and Wendel Stringfield.

Dessie Wade

Dessie Faye Story Wade, 87, passed away with her family at her bedside on Friday, Feb. 1, 2013 in Mansfield,  TX.

Graveside services were held Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013 in the New Hope Cemetery near Mexia, TX.

Dessie Faye was born on Dec. 29, 1925 and grew up outside of Mexia.

After moving to Fort Worth she married Arnold W. Wade and raised their three children in Arlington.

Dessie Faye and Arnold retired to the peaceful area of Frankston and were longtime residents of Brierwood Bay.

She was a proud member of the Eastern Star Bullard Chapter and of the VFW in Frankston.

Dessie Faye was a loving wife and mother who enjoyed sewing and making beautiful quilts.

She was preceded in death by her devoted and loving husband Arnold W. Wade.

She is survived by her three children Bob Wade, Jenny Thurmond and Lee Wade of Arlington; seven grandchildren John Thurmond, Angela Kasko, Joey Thurmond, Amie Alsup, Julie Shehane, Adam Wade and Erin Wade; 11 great grandchildren; and her sister Mary Story Mahafee.

Additional information may be seen at www.blair-stubbs.com .

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