Clifford Burks Elrod

Funeral services for Clifford Burks Elrod, 86, of Frankston were held at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 29, at First Baptist Church of Frankston with the Revs. Louie Barron, J.A. Griffin, George Folmar and Randy Wallace officiating.

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

Mrs. Elrod died Sunday, June 27, at her residence.

She was born March 23, 1913, to the late Lewis A. and Hattie Burks.

Mrs. Elrod was retired as a school teacher from Frankston Independent School District in 1973. She taught mostly first grade and elementary.

She was a member of First Baptist Church of Frankston and Delta Kappa Gamma sorority.

Mrs. Elrod was preceded in death by her husband, Tom Campbell Elrod in 1980; father, Lewis A. Burks in 1944; mother, Hattie Burks in 1973; and brother, Tom Frank Burks in 1980.

Survivors include a niece, Carolyn Burks Carroll, Henderson; two great-nieces, Jayne Joplin German, Denton and Joan Joplin Cullum, Grand Prairie; one great-nephew; Jeffrey Burks Joplin of Richardson; one sister-in-law, Ruby Burks Dunn of Mabank; two great-great- nieces, Madlyn Germany of Denton and Caitlyn Cullum of Grand Prairie; two great-great nephews, Matthew Cullum of Grand Prairie and Blake Cullum of Grand Prairie; a longtime close friend, Gladys Boles, Frankston; and other relatives.

Pallbearers include Jerry Boles, Larry Selman, Johnny Burks, Elmer Gene Birdwell, James Gouger and Larry Weesner.

Honorary pallbearers include James Lade Sr., Bob Selman, Jesse Smith Sr., J.C. Hicks, Jackson Hanks and Jerry Gideon.

Esther A. Roberts

POYNOR - Funeral services for Esther A. Roberts, 87, of Poynor were held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 9, at LaPoynor Church of Christ with Lethal Roberts and Steve Handley officiating.

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

Mrs. Roberts died Wednesday, July 7, in a Jacksonville hospital.

She was born Oct. 11, 1911, in Kreshaw, S.C., and had lived in Poynor all her life.

Mrs. Roberts was a homemaker and a member of the Church of Christ.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James "Jimmy" Roberts; her parents; three brothers; and three sisters.

Survivors include sisters, Lucy Jo Rivers, Angleton, and Madolyne Brown, Pflugerville.

Doial Parker

Funeral services for Doial Parker, 77, of Latexo, formerly of Frankston, were held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, July 10, at Thompson Funeral Home chapel, Frankston, with the Rev. James Engle officiating.

Burial was in Memorial Park West, Tyler.

Mr. Parker died Tuesday, July 6, at his residence.

He was born April 9, 1922, in Leon County.

Mr. Parker served in the Marine Corps during World War II and retired from the Air Force after 21 years of service.

He lived in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Frankston prior to moving to Latexo.

Mr. Parker was a member of HillTop Baptist Church of Berryville and American Legion.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Theresa Lucille Parker; brother, Robert Martin; sisters, Katherine Wilkins and Gladys Fannin; and parents.

Survivors include sons, Jim Parker, Fort Wayne, Ind., and Sammy Parker, Palm Springs, Calif.; daughter, Norma Jean Kretschmer; Obernburg, Germany; sister, Frances McKinney, Latexo; nine grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; one great-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Clifford Price, Albert Neal, James Martin, Frank Martin, Darryl Martin and George Parker.

Paul Blanton

CUNEY - Funeral services for Paul Guinn Blanton, 65, of Cuney were held at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 8, at Rock Hill Baptist Church with the Revs. Delbert Simpson, D.G. Hinton and Chaplain Joel Warren officiating.

Burial was in Rock Hill Cemetery under direction of Williams Funeral Home, Jacksonville.

Mr. Blanton died Thursday, July 1, in a Dallas hospital.

He was born Feb. 11, 1923 in Cuney and was graduated from Cuney High School.

Mr. Blanton retired from the Air Force in 1973 after 20 years service and was a member of Rock Hill Baptist Church and Cuney City Council.

Mr. Blanton was preceded in death by a son, Cedric Guinn Blanton.

Survivors include his wife, Marnada Burks Blanton, Cuney; two daughters and sons-in-law, Jacquelyn and SFC Reginald Barnes, El Paso, and Francine and Kenneth Williams, Cuney; brothers, H.B. and Tyree Blanton, both of Houston, and Raymond Joe Blanton, Los Angeles, Calif.; sister, Francine Arnwine, Houston; and four grandchildren.

Pallbearers were members of the United States Air Force.

Honorary pallbearers were Nathaniel Davis, Jessie Johnson, Jimmy Earl Donnell, Kenneth Johnson, Roger Boykin and Adjie Crear Jr.

Novas Droby

Funeral services for Novas Droby, 85, of Frankston were held at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 8, at Bailey & Foster Funeral Home Chapel, Palestine, with Dan Manuel officiating.

Burial was in Frankston City Cemetery.

Mrs. Droby died Monday, July 5, in a Tyler nursing home.

She was born April 20, 1924 in Frankston to the late Riley and Mattie Richardson Richards.

Mrs. Droby retired from Missouri Pacific Railroad and was a member of Crockett Road Church of Christ, Palestine.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lewis Droby; sisters, Myrtis Hood and Dorothy Griffin; and brother, Horace Richards.

Survivors include daughter, Jet Emmons, Arp; son, Rusty Droby, Frankston; sister, Ruby Beard, Frankston; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Paul Droby, David Drafahl, Sky Pinkston, Todd Emmons, Richard Schwartz and W.P. Alford.

Joseph Maxwell

PALESTINE - Funeral services for Joseph M. Maxwell, 64, of Valley Mills, formerly of Palestine, were held at 3 p.m. Thursday, July 8, at Bailey & Foster Funeral Home, Palestine, with the Rev. Jay Lloyd officiating.

Burial was in Roselawn Park.

Mr. Maxwell died Sunday, July 4, in a Lebanon, Tenn. hospital.

He was born Oct. 25, 1934 in Howe to the late Maurice and Thelma Benedict Maxwell.

Mr. Maxwell was a self employed truck driver and former owner of Maxwell Drilling Co., Blue Max Oil and Gas and also received Top Gun Award for safety and driving.

He was a member of First Baptist Church of Valley Mills, Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce and Lions Club in Bowie, and IADC.

Survivors include sons, Joey Maxwell of Frankston, Kelley Maxwell and Frank Countryman, both of Palestine, and Donnie Maxwell, Bowie; daughters, Debbie Maxwell, Valley Mills; Vicki White and Brenda Maxwell, both of Palestine; and Helen Dunlap, Winnsboro; sisters, Jean Hiser, Jefferson, and Ann Miller, Tomball; and 14 grandchildren.

Pallbearers included Joey Maxwell, Kelley Maxwell, Donnie Maxwell, Frank Countryman, Roy White Jr. and Brian Dunlap.

Honorary pallbearers were George Hodge, Dean Barnes, J.W. Johnson, Jimmy Dale Gartman, Randy Cape, Hugh Miller, Bob Hiser and Jerry Whitaker.

Dorothy Duffy

Funeral services for Dorothy Duffy, 77, of Berryville, formerly of Omaha, Neb., were held at 10 a.m. Friday, July 16, at Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with Rev. Jeff Godwin and Rev. Randy Wallace officiating.

Burial was in Garden Oaks Memorial Park in Berryville.

Mrs. Duffy died Tuesday, July 13, in a Frankston nursing home.

She was born Nov. 13, 1921 in White Hall, Ill.

Mrs. Duffy had lived in Berryville since 1986. She was a retired grocery clerk.

Survivors include one son, Patrick Turpitt of Bullard; one daughter and son-in-law, Dorothy Ann and Clarence Morton of Berryville; one brother, Carl Myers of Omaha, Neb.; four grandchildren, Cindy Owens and Shelley Vaughn, both of Berryville, Clay Morton of Houston and Christine Morton, of Albuquerque, N.M.; seven great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Michael Nally, Matthew Nally, Joshua Vaughn, Clay Morton, James Owens and Jay Boykin.

The family suggests memorials to the American Cancer Society.

Hansel G. Pearce

Funeral services for Hansel G. Pearce, 74, of Tyler were held at 2 p.m. Monday, July 19, at Hillcreek Baptist Church of Whitehouse with Drs. Charlie Holmes and Harold Brunson and Brother Mack Peacock officiating.

Entombment was at Cathedral in the Pines Mausoleum under direction of Burks-Walker Tippitt Funeral Directors, Tyler.

Mr. Pearce died Saturday, July 17.

He was born Dec. 25, 1924 in Personville to the late John Edward and Arma Pearl Pearce.

Mr. Pearce served in the Army during World War II in the 11th Airborne Paratroopers.

He received his bachelor's degree from Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, his master's degree in education from Stephen F. Austin State University and did post-graduate studies at University of Colorado in Boulder.

Mr. Pearce was a teacher and administrator in public schools for 34 years. He also served as a Baptist minister in several East and West Texas churches for more than 46 years.

He was preceded in death by five brothers and a sister.

On Nov. 11, 1998, he celebrated 50 years of marriage to his wife, Mrs. Pat Gray Pearce of Tyler.

He is also survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Mike and Linda Pearce of Jacksonville, Randy and Becky Pearce of Brushy Creek; one brother, Teddy Pearce of Lancaster; two sisters, Loretta Rogers of San Angelo, Johnny Pearce Gail of Hugo, Okla.; and seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Johnny McGregor, Neil Quillan, John-John McGregor, Thomas Wylie, Johnny Ashby, Randy Martin, Robert Casper, Dr. Billy Westbrook, Sheryl Miles, Doug Dudley, Mack Hill, David Roach and Bruce Pittman.

Honorary pallbearers were men of Hillcreek Baptist Church.

If desired, family requests that memorials be made to Hospice of East Texas at 3800 Paluxy, Suite 560, Tyler, 7501, or to the Building Fund at Hillcreek Baptist Church at P.O. Box 1287, Whitehouse, 75791.

Madison "Mat" Spears

Funeral services for Madison "Mat" Spears, 63, of Bullard were held at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 28, at First Baptist Church in Frankston with the Revs. Grover Talbert, Randy Wallace and Tom Pesnell officiating.

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

Mr. Spears died Sunday, July 25, at his residence.

He was born Jan. 27, 1936 in Hunt County.

Mr. Spears was retired from Kelly Springfield Tire Co. after 32 years service. He was past City Councilman of Bullard, former Sunday School Superintendent of First Baptist Church Bullard and youth baseball coach for over 25 years.

He attended Caddo Mills High School. Mr. Spears was a member of First Baptist Church, Frankston.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and a sister.

Survivors include his wife of 40 years, Martha Harris Spears, Bullard; sons and daughters-in-law, Randy and Sandy Spears of Gilmer, Kevin Spears of Houston, Eric and Pam Spears, Tom and Becky Spears, all of Frankston; one brother, Jimmy Spears of Mt. Pleasant; three sisters, Mary Butler of Scurry, Iona Turney of Josephine and Molly Moore of Garland; five grandchildren, Dillon, Zack, Erica, Minta and Madison; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Sam Teague, Bill Lockwood, Charlie Loosier, Harry Johnson, John Nach, James Dooley, Mike Turney and Ricky Moore.

Nephews were honorary pallbearers.

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