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.)

Howard Mitchel Hall Sr.

CUNEY — Funeral services for Howard Mitchel Hall Sr., 46, Cuney, were held at 1 p.m. Thursday, June 5, at Rock Hill Baptist Church with the Revs. Delbert Simpson and Ray Baker officiating.

Burial was in Mount Olive Cemetery under direction of Community Funeral Home, Jacksonville.

Mr. Hall died Friday, May 30, at a Tyler hospice.

He was born Dec. 24, 1956, in Frankston, where he grew up and graduated from Frankston High School. Mr. Hall was a logger, worked in construction and was a Baptist.

He was preceded in death by his father, Antone Hall Sr., and brothers, Wayne and Anthony C. Hall.

Survivors include his wife, Bertha Jean Hall, Cuney; son, Howard Mitchel Hall Jr., Cuney; daughter, Lathisia Hall, Cuney; mother, LaFaye Hall, Frankston; brothers, Antone Hall Sr., Terry Hall and Wallace Hall, all of Frankston, Ray Hall, Berryville, and Jerry Hall, Jacksonville; sisters, Debra Canady, Frankston, Wanda Hinton, Jacksonville, and Linda Brozier, Palestine.

Pallbearers were Roger Boykins, Lester Dennis, Alex Woods, Kevin Freeman, Sherman Harmon and Kirk Woods.

Honorary pallbearers were Garry Canady, Ricky Crear, Johnath Hall, Silvester Tompkins, Jessye Gray and Winfred Hall.

Arlean Banks Jones

LARUE — Funeral services for Arlean Banks Jones, 73, of LaRue, were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 31, at Church of the Living God with Elder Wheeler Jones officiating.

Burial was in Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery under direction of John R. Harmon Undertaking Co., Tyler.

Mrs. Jones died Saturday, May 24.

She was born Dec. 6, 1929, in Haynesville, La., and lived in LaRue for more than 15 years. She was a silk finisher for Quinn Cleaners, a Baptist and member of the Usher Board.

Mrs. Jones was preceded in death by her husband and three sisters.

Survivors include a son, Jimmie Banks, Chandler; brothers, Booker T. Banks, Tyler, and J.T. Banks, Minden, La.; sisters, Christine Banks, Tyler, Earnestine Matthews, Houston, Alma Nolen, Alice Kinsey and Helen Kinsey, all of Minden, La., four grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Mary Ruth Williamson

Funeral services for Mary Ruth Williamson, 89, of Frankston were held Monday, June 16, at First Baptist Church in Frankston under direction of Thompson Funeral Home, Frankston, with Rev. Eddie Hilburn and Rev. J.A. Griffin officiating.

Burial was in Frankston City Cemetery.

Mrs. Williamson died Friday, June 13, at a Tyler hospice.

She was born Feb. 20, 1914 in Anderson County and was a homemaker. Mrs. Williamson was a Baptist.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Nathan Forrest Williamson.

Survivors include sons, Clifford Frank Williamson of Lake Palestine, Nathan Forrest Williamson of Tyler and Charles Earl Williamson of Carthage; daughters, Joyce Katherine McLane of Frankston and Joann McKown of McKinney; sisters, Blanch Dotson of Frankston and Pauline Coker of Chandler; 10 grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Ray McKown, Chad Andrews, Scot Williamson, Chuck Williamson, Allen Dover and Scott Helms.

Honorary pallbearers were Steven Williamson, Trent Williamson and Craig Williamson.

Verna Blanton Williams

CUNEY — Funeral services for Verna Blanton Williams, 79, of Cuney were held Saturday, June 14, at Rock Hill Baptist Church in Cuney, with the Revs. Delbert Simpson and Derrick Hinton officiating.

Burial was at the Rock Hill Cemetery under the direction of Williams Funeral Home.

Mrs. Williams died Saturday, June 7.

She was born Sept. 3, 1923 in Cuney. A graduate of Cuney High School, Tyler Beauty College and Texas College, Mrs. Williams was an active member of the Rock Hill Baptist Church. She was also a teacher and taught in Jewett, Alto, Palestine, Cuney and Dallas Independent School Districts. She retired from the DISD in 1971.

Mrs. Williams was preceded in death by her parents, Gus and Pearl P. Blanton and four brothers and sisters.

Survivors include a son, Lewis Johnson of Cuney; nephews, Charles Cross of Cuney, J.B. Blanton and Tyree Blanton, both of Houston, Raymond Blanton of Los Angeles, Calif., and James A. Blanton of Fort Worth; nieces, Mrs. Dorothy B. Taylor, Mrs. Jewell Kelley and Mrs. Edith McDonald, all of Fort Worth; and a sister-in-law, Mrs. Voollie Blanton of Lubbock.

Pallbearers were Roger Boykins, Jessie Johnson Jr., Nathan Cantley, Kenneth Williams, Quintin Arnwine and Luke Patton.

Honorary pallbearers were the deacons of Rock Hill Baptist Church.

Art Brightwell

PALESTINE — Funeral services for James Arthur Brightwell, 88, of Palestine were held at 3 p.m. Friday, June l3, in the Bailey & Foster Chapel in Palestine with Dr. Tom Rousseau officiating.

Burial was in Roselawn Park under the direction of Bailey & Foster.

Mr. Brightwell died Monday, June 9, in a Henderson hospital.

He was born Oct. 8, 1914 in Kilgore to Walter Jesse Brightwell and Beatrice Nixon Brightwell. Mr. Brightwell was a Methodist. He was in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He managed the Dairy Queen in Palestine before retiring. Mr. Brightwell did volunteer service at the senior citizens center and for Meals on Wheels.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mildred Phillips Brightwell, who died in 2001; four sisters, Myrtis Storey, Valerie Nash, Oweene Fears and Jessie Williams; and brothers, Paul Brightwell and Floyd Brightwell.

Survivors include his daughter, Debbie Bolton and husband Raben of Palestine; sons, James A. Brightwell II and wife Kathryn of Spring, David E. Brightwell and wife Jackie of Frankston and Gerald W. Brightwell of Palestine; sisters, Mary Alice Jansen of Anchorage, Alaska and Lynn Hall of San Antonio; brothers, O’Neal Brightwell of Nacogdoches, Olin Brightwell of Dayton, Burl Brightwell of Houston and Walter Brightwell of Kitteridge, Colo.; six grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

Pallbearers were Terry Thorn, Jim Hankins, Wayne Thomas and grandsons, Adam Bolton, David Brightwell II and Tim Brightwell.

Honorary pallbearers were granddaughters, Cynthia Brightwell, Rebecca Thomas and Betsy Bolton.

Elden Burgess Bowling

Funeral services for Elden Burgess Bowling, 93, of Frankston were held Tuesday, June 17, at 10 a.m. in the chapel of Thompson Funeral Home, Frankston.

Burial was at 3 p.m. at Restland Cemetery in Dallas.

Mr. Bowling died Friday, June 13, in a Frankston nursing home.

He was born March 3, 1909 in Dallas and was a postal driver. Mr. Bowling was a Baptist.

Survivors include his wife, Leona Bowling of Frankston; a son, James Bowling of New Braunfels; a daughter, Barbara Rasberry of Irving; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were members of the Frankston VFW Post #5073.

‘H.L.’ Hoskins

LARUE — Graveside services for Harden Lee “H.L.” Hoskins Jr., 69, LaRue, were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, at LaRue Cemetery with the Rev. Edwin McDaniel officiating under direction of Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home, Athens.

Mr. Hoskins died Tuesday, June 17, in an Athens hospital.

He was born Oct. 3, 1933, in LaRue to the late Hora Lee Sr. and Connie Harden Hoskins, and was a lifelong resident.

Mr. Hoskins served in the Army during the Korean War, retired from road construction for Henderson County, and was a Baptist.

Survivors are cousins.

Honorary pallbearers were Raymond McDaniel, John Douglas McDaniel, the Rev. Edwin McDaniel, Lester Hoskins and Marvin T. Miller.

If desired, memorials may be made to LaRue Cemetery Assn., care of Barbara Cummings, P.O. Box 82, LaRue, 75770 or to the LaRue Community Center.

Gerald E. Johnson

Memorial services for Gerald E. Johnson, 57, of Frankston, formerly of Clovis, N.M., were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at the Frankston Missionary Baptist Church with Mart Edwards officiating.

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

Mr. Johnson died Wednesday, June 11, at his residence.

He was born Dec. 22, 1945 in Tucumcari, N.M.

Mr. Johnson was a truck driver and a member of Frankston Missionary Baptist Church. He served in the U.S. Army as a sergeant and was formerly a prisoner of war.

Survivors include his wife, Charlene Johnson of Frankston; sons, Gerald Johnson and Steven Johnson, both of Clovis, N.M.; daughters, Sharla Johnson of Clovis, N.M., Suzanna Johnson of Levelland, Debra Flowers of Poynor and Darlene Burnitt of Frankston; brothers, James Johnson of Frankston and Dennis Johnson of Houston; a sister, Kay Hamner of Lubbock; two grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

Mildred Thompson Byrd

Graveside services for Mildred Thompson Byrd, 88, of Palestine were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, June 25, at Chapel of the Air at Land of Memory Cemetery with Dr. Barry Roberts officiating.

Arrangements were under the direction of Herrington/Land of Memory Funeral Home in Palestine.

Mrs. Byrd died Sunday, June 22, in a Palestine health care center.

She was born Sept. 10, 1914 in the Jarvis Community,Texas to C.C. and Fannie Hassell and adopted by Guy and Adella Thompson.

Mrs. Byrd attended Palestine Public Schools. She worked at McCrory’s Dime Store, Hardin Cleaners, several different nursing homes and Palestine Memorial Hospital. She was a carrier for the Palestine Herald-Press and an accomplished seamstress. Mrs. Byrd was a charter member of the Evangelistic Temple. She married Harry G. Miller and later married Frank A. Byrd.

Mrs. Byrd was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Frank Byrd in January 1958; six brothers; a son and a great-granddaughter.

Survivors include three daughters and sons-in-law, Adell and Bill Kindt of Lawton, Okla, Frances and Harold Rhodes of the Brushy Creek Community, Jean and Johnny Walding of Palestine, one son, John Carroll Byrd of Athens, eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, six great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were grandchildren, Gerald Boyd, Dwayne Walding, Chris Walding, John Byrd, Christopher J. Walding, Keith Hall, Chuck Goodson and Franka Rhodes Burchard.

Bill Hinson

Graveside services for Bill Hinson, 83, of Midland were held at 11 a.m. Monday, June 23, at Resthaven Memorial Park with Rev. Richard Edwards officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Ellis Funeral Home of Midland.

Mr. Hinson died Friday, June 20.

He was born Oct. 10, 1919 in Cleveland, Texas to Clarence D. Hinson and Grace Norris Hinson. He was reared in Frankston and was a graduate of Frankston High School.Mr. Hinson graduated from Texas A&M University in 1942 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering. During World War II, he held the rank of captain in the Army Air Corps and was a B-17 Command Pilot, 8th Air Force in the European Theater, receiving various medals including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal. On May 31, 1947, he married Melba P. Hinson. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Hinson was the district superintendent of N.C.R.A.

Mr. Hinson was a member of St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, serving on the administrative board and various committees. Other memberships included Masonic Lodge No. 623 and the Society of Petroleum Engineers.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Melba, in 1998.

Survivors include his son, Bob Hinson, daughter-in-law, Ellen, and his grandchildren, Hutton Hinson and Barrett Hinson, all of Midland; and a sister, Gladys Boles of Frankston; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be directed to St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Memorial Fund, 3011 W. Kansas, Midland, Texas 79701 or the charity of one’s choice.

Charlene Da Schlemmer

Funeral services for Charlene Da Schlemmer, 65, of Brushy Creek, formerly of Willis, were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, June 25, at the Grace Family Bible Church, Frankston with Rev. Edmond James officiating.

Burial was at the County Line Cemetery in Willis under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home, Frankston.

Mrs. Schlemmer died at her residence Sunday, June 22, at after a lengthy illness.

She was born Feb. 28, 1937 in Houston. Mrs. Schlemmer was a school secretary for 20 years and was employed at Sam Houston Early Learning Center for 10 years. Mrs. Schlemmer was a member of Grace Family Bible Church in Frankston.

She was preceded in death by her parents.

Survivors include her husband of 44 years, Ernest Lee Schlemmer Jr. of Brushy Creek; a son, Ernest Lee Schlemmer III and his wife, Kim, of Alto; daughters, Debra D. Dean of Frankston and Helen S. Hales and husband, Jessie of Willis; Dolores J. Cribbs and husband, Clayton of Jacksonville; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and numerous special friends.

Pallbearers were Jessie Hales, Chris Hales, Matt Hales, B.J. Mauboules, Bodi Arthur and Nukya Brown.

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