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.)

Sue Thompson Smith

Memorial services for Sue T. Smith, 60, of Frankston, were held Friday, June 27, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Frankston with Msgr. “Zac”Kunnakkattuthara officiating.

Arrangements were under direction of Lloyd James Funeral Home.

Mrs. Smith passed away on Tuesday, June 24 in Tyler.

She was born on Nov. 1, 1947 in Dallas to the late Maurice Murdock and Maureen Harwood Thompson.

She was a Roman Catholic, a registered nurse for Hospice of East Texas and has lived in Tyler since 1977.

She is survived by her daughter, Tammy Dougan of Sulphur Springs; brother, Lynn Thompson of Garland; two grandchildren; and a niece, Jenifer Thompson Rogers of Alvin.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler 75701.

Vernon Hart

Graveside services for Vernon Hart, 76, of Chandler were held Tuesday, July 1, at Frankston City Cemetery, Frankston with the Rev. Bob Sexton officiating.

Services were under the direction of Autry Funeral Home in Frankston.

Mr. Hart died Saturday, June 28, 2008 in Tyler.

He was born February 25, 1932 in Chandler. He was a member of West Lake Baptist Church and a Mason at Masonic Lodge, #993 in Chandler for 51 years. Vernon served in the Navy during the Korean Conflict. He also worked in construction work most of his life, National Homes in Tyler, and others over the years.

Preceding him in death was his son, Pat Hart, his grandmother, Johnnie Hart, and uncle, Donald Hart.

Survivors include wife of 55 years, Phyllis “Phyl” Patrick Hart of Chandler; son, Michael Hart and his wife Jolisa of Tyler; brother, David Hart of Tyler; 4 grandsons, Josh Hart, Jacob Hart and his wife Katy, Joseph Hart and Patrick Hart; and 3 great grandchildren.

Honorary pallbearers were John Potter, Larry Powell, Connally Howeth, Billy Beasley, Billy Beasley II, and Barry Beasley.

David Earl Coker

Funeral services for David Earl Coker, 61, of Lufkin, and formerly of Frankston were held Sunday, July 13, at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston.

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

Mr. Coker died Friday, July 11, 2008 in Lufkin.

He was born September 19, 1946 in Elkhart.

He was preceded in death by his parents Joe B. and Adele Simpson Coker and his brother Caroll Coker.

Mr. Coker served the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department and was a member of the Assembly of God in Frankston.

Survivors include his son, Daniel Coker of Palestine; brother, Darrell Coker of Kennard; sisters, Ruth Cole of Pollok and Joyce Coker of Tomball; and good friends Mike Goodman and Larry Joe House of Frankston and several nieces and nephews.

Thelma Harris

Funeral services for Thelma Harris, 88, of Frankston were held Sunday, July 20, at the First Baptist Church in Frankston with the Revs. Eddie Hilburn, Gerald Hall, Jr and Doug Howell officiating.

Mrs. Harris died Wednesday, July 16, in Frankston.

Burial will be at Frankston City Cemetery in Frankston.

She was born August 25, 1919 to William Henry Merl Gillum and Rosie Maybell Davidson.

She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Frankston as well as the Theadeus Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in Jacksonvilleand she was a former Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church in Frankston.

Mrs. Harris was preceded in death by her parents William Gillum and Rosie Davidson, husband, L.B. Harris, son, Elvin F Harris, daughter, Tiny Mae Harris,grand-daughter, Janet Harris, grandson, Jimmy Harris and great grandson, Dustin Harris.

Mrs. Harris is survived by her sons, Ray F. Harris of Frankston, Jimmy R. Harris of Athens and James E. Harris of Jacksonville; daughters, Nettie Holland of Malakoff, Nell Hall of Palestine and Dianne Beard of Frankston; brother, Edgar Gillum, of North Carolina, brother-in-law and wife, Ray and Lilly Harris of Jacksonville and sister-in-law Macie Mize of Wascom.

Mrs. Harris had 25 grandchildren, 45 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Pallbearers were Bobby Harris, Waddell Norris, Greg Goodwin, Tracy Harris, Craig Hawkins, Andrew Hall, Josh Harris and Craig Friberg.

Honorary pallbearers were her grandchildren.

Eugene Hunter

Graveside services for Mr. Eugene (Gene) Hunter, 71, of Bullard were held Sunday, July 20, at Gossett Chapel Cemetery in Jacksonville under the direction of Autry Funeral Home with Rev. Andy Cox officiating.

Mr. Hunter died Friday, July 18, 2008 in Tyler.

He was born Nov. 3, 1936 in Van Zandt County, Texas.

Mr. Hunter was member of the Church of Nazarene and was employed as a saw miller for over 45 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents Dover Delaware Hunter and Mamie Cain Hunter.

He is survived by his wife, Francis Hunter of Bullard and two sons, Donald and Ricarda Hunter of Frankston and Frank and wife LaRhonda Hunter of Liberty City; two daughters, Janice M. Hunter of Tyler and Lynda and Douglas Rice of Bullard; three foster children, Jesse and Angela Pool of Hallsville, Raymond and Amy Boswell of Midland and Merri and Jack Leatherwood of Tyler, two Sisters, MaeDean Partney and Elizabeth and husband James Gibson, all of Tyler.

Mr. Hunter had 19 grandchildren, one great grandchild and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Jesse Pool, Raymond Boswell, Michael Howard, Rodney Fountain, Will Jennings and Craig Gray.

Bessie Jo Henderson

Funeral services for Bessie Jo Henderson, 73, of Frankston, were held Monday July 28, 2008 at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston.

Burial followed in Frankston City Cemetery.

Mrs. Henderson died in Frankston on Friday, July 25, 2008.

She was born in Frankston on Nov. 4, 1934.

Mrs. Henderson retired as parts manager at Lade Ford after 25 years of service.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Survivors include her husband, Billy Henderson; daughters and sons-in-law Debbie and Roger Hilton of LaRue, Sue and Gordon Campbell of Frankston; and two grandchildren, Sarah Hilton and Cash Campbell.

James 'Pappy' Perry

Private family memorial services for James Perry, 59, of Jacksonville are to be scheduled at a later date per family request.

Mr. Perry died Sunday July 27, 2008, in Tyler.

He was born Nov. 20, 1948 in Cherokee County.

Mr. Perry was employed as a highway surveyor in the construction field.

He was preceded in death by his parents George Perry and Mary Lee Dickerson Perry and his son, Jason Perry.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Rivera Perry; two daughters, Tammy Butler and husband R.L. Burns of Frankston and Teresa Perry of Frankston; three sisters, Hazel Huff of Grand Prairie and Darlene Williams and Kay Underwood, both of Greenville, as well as his special friend, Clifford Moseley.

Mr. Perry has 6 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

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