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.)

Doris Olive Proops

Doris Olive Proops (Savage), 93, passed away on June 23, 2013, at Saint Vincent’s hospital in Billings, Montana, just two weeks short of her 94th birthday. She was accompanied on her passage by the light of the largest and brightest full moon of the year.

At the time of her death, Doris was living with her daughter and son-in-law, Marian and George Sharp, in Roscoe, Montana. Prior to moving to Montana, she lived in Coffee City, Texas, for the past 12 years. Previous residences also include Brandon, Mississippi, Show Low, Arizona, San Carlos, California and Phoenix, Arizona.

Doris was born in Casilla, Mississippi on July 4, 1919. She was the oldest of nine children born to Jack Brown Savage and Olive Mente Savage (Wolfe). Two of the children, Ted and Howard, died early in life and the remaining family moved to Arizona when Doris was a teenager. They traveled across the country in a Model-T Ford towing a trailer and camped alongside the highway during their trip. It is hard to imagine two adults and seven children in an old Model-T, towing a trailer with all of their worldly possessions, traveling across the U.S. It must have been quite a sight. Doris always said they loved the trip.

Doris spent most of her working career in the food service/hospitality industry where she excelled at her work. She loved gardening and was a superb cook. All of her siblings, children, grandchildren and nephews and nieces will miss the fantastic meals she effortlessly prepared. She had a great sense of humor, was an avid reader and stayed well informed of current events, politics and entertainment. She loved her TV shows and was a big fan of Lawrence Welk, Elvis Presley and Roy Orbison. When calling on the phone you always had to ask her to turn down the volume on the TV so you could carry on a conversation.

Doris is survived by her four children James Griffith (Margaret Bullock) of Phoenix, Arizona, Marian Sharp (George) of Roscoe, Montana and Show Low, Arizona, Patrice Herb of Litchfield, Arizona and Gregory Proops (Jennifer) of West Hollywood, California.

She is also survived by her siblings Jack Savage (Betty), Joyce Whitton and Don Savage (Joann) all of Coffee City and Rex Savage (Lana) of Portland, Oregon; seven surviving grandchildren Eric Sharp, Kristen Sharp, Chad Sharp, Heather Douglass, Nick Herb, Brandon Griffith and Danielle Herb; 13 great grandchildren; 2 great great grandchildren and many nephews and nieces. Doris was loved by all of her immediate and extended family and she will be deeply missed.

Doris was preceded in death by her former husbands, James R. Griffith and Stephen G. Proops; brothers Ted and Howard and sisters Marjorie McNeil and Frances Stricker.

In her final days Doris battled the long-term effects of diabetes. In her honor please consider donations to your local diabetes foundation/association.

Velma Smith

Funeral services for Velma Smith, 88, of Frankston are scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, July 18, 2013, at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with Brandon Sheeley officiating. Interment will be at Old Bethel Cemetery in Frankston.

Mrs. Smith passed away Sunday, July 14, 2013, in Katy.

Velma was born June 23, 1925, to Eugene Price Mitchell and Nellie Richardson Mitchell in Frankston.

She attended the Church of Christ in Frankston.

She is preceded in death by her husband Harry Smith; parents Eugene and Nellie Mitchell; and brothers Dennis Mitchell, Fred Mitchell, and Knox Mitchell.

Survivors include her sons Terry Sheeley and wife Kay of Frankston, Gary Sheeley and wife Terry Ann of Bryan; daughters Nelda Clayton and husband Dennis of Katy, Karen Howell and husband Jerry of Frankston; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; three nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Brian Clayton, Jerry Howell, Jeremy Sheeley, Lucas Sheeley, David Sheeley, and Jason Brinker.

Elzada Ruth Pagitt

Funeral services for Elzada Ruth Pagitt, 79, of Athens were held Wednesday, July 24, 2013, at the chapel of the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens with Bro. Randy Jones officiating.

Burial followed at Poynor Cemetery in Poynor.

She went to be with her Lord and Savior Sunday, July 21, 2013, in Athens.

Elzada was born June 17, 1934, in Eastland, Texas, to Edward Clark and Minnie Hall Clark.

She lived in this area for over 50 years and was employed as an insurance agent for 25 years with Gould Insurance Company.

Elzada was a member of First Christian Church in Athens, a former member of Business and Professional Women’s Club, Weight Watcher’s leader, and she loved gardening.

Elzada will be missed greatly by her family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband James Robert Pagitt and one brother Edward Clark.

Survivors include two daughters Rhonda Myers and husband Marlin of Pearland, Donna P. Richardson of San Antonio; two sons Steve Pagitt and wife Cindy of Athens, Jerry Pagitt and wife Tamara of Iuka, Miss.; granddaughters Elizabeth Myers, Christy Myers, Courtney Wigley and husband John, Meagan Medina and husband Javier, Holly Pagitt, Jamie Mabry and husband Payne; grandsons Evan Pagitt and Matthew Myers; two great grandsons; sister Becky Caddell and husband Rick; brothers Almond Clark of Frankston, Louie Clark and wife Linda of Elkhart; brothers and sisters-in-law Jeanette Clark of LaPorte, Billy Joe and Mauriene Pagitt of Athens, Martha and Max Bishop of Tyler, Thomas Ray and Carolyn Pagitt of Poynor and Pat and Jimmy McCarty of Tyler; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Steve Pagitt, Jerry Pagitt, Evan Pagitt, Matthew Myers, Javier Medina, and Payne Mabry.

Special thank you to Athens ETMC ICU nursing staff.

Arrangements were entrusted to the care of Hannigan Smith Funeral Home of Athens.

People may light a candle or write condolences to Mrs. Pagitt’s family at www.hannigansmith.com

Contributions may be made to a charity of one’s choice.

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