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.)

Robert Crawford

Memorial services for Robert Wendell Crawford were held Tuesday, June 3, in the chapel at Autry Funeral Home in Frankston.

Mr. Crawford was born on May 26, 1923 in Conorsville, Indiana. He passed away on May 31, 2008 in Frankston.

Survivors include his wife, Judy Crawford of Frankston, mother-in-law, Hazel Taylor of Frankston; son, Jessie Davis of Sherman; daughters, Jamie Hovis and Christen Deeb of Iowa Park; and brother-in-law Joe and Shirley Taylor; five grandchildren, Jessie Jack, Jared, Taylor, Chase, and Nathane; and several nieces and nephews.

Dale Graham

Dale Ernest (Scott) Graham, a former resident of Frankston from 1991 to 2001, passed away Monday, June 02, at the age of 66 at the Hospice of East Texas in Tyler.

He was born in Toledo, Oregon on November 25, 1941 to Evan A. Scott and Minna Almeda Murray.

Dale served in the United States Air Force during the early days of Vietnam. After leaving the military, he was a crash rescue fireman in the Civil Service in Washington, D.C. From there, he moved to Omaha, Neb. and became a meat cutter and worked in area markets, grocery stores, and packing houses.

In the early 70s, Dale moved to Texas. He worked for Safeway, Piggly Wiggly, and various other markets in East Texas.

He became disabled in 1990 from a back injury while working at Wal-Mart in Jacksonville. Dale found Jesus and became a Christian while suffering through his disability. He joined the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in 1996 where he served faithfully to bring others the love of Jesus Christ.

Dale was voted Layman of the Year in 2000 for the North American Division of Seventh-Day Adventists for his work as Personal Ministries Director distributing Bible studies and Christian literature to thousands of people.

From 2002 to 2005, Dale was the volunteer director of the SEJAM after-school program in Jacksonville where he helped many children have a safe place to come after school to play and get help with their homework.

He enjoyed this ministry very much, and all the children loved “Mr. Dale.”

Then in 2007, he was diagnosed with diabetes and liver disease which eventually took his life.

Dale loved life and was always willing to help anyone in need if he could. He will be greatly missed by his wife, Vickey; five sons, Michael Scott, Timothy Scott, and Brian Scott of Omaha, Neb., Dale Graham Jr. of Bridgeport and Raymond Graham of Bullard; two daughters, Christine Goodburn of Omaha, Neb. and Toni Teyib of Bullard; three brothers, Darrell Graham of Tyler, Raymond Graham of Mt. Vernon, Washington, and Evan Scott of San Francisco, Calif.; two sisters, Dawn Scott of Anchorage, Ala. and Darlene Sanders of Madras, Oregon; 14 grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews, and many special friends.

Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday, June 8, 2008 at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Tyler, with Pastor Raul Benitez officiating.

Visitation will follow the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation in honor of Dale to your favorite charity.

Randhi Jo Allen

Funeral services for Randhi Jo Allen, 35, of Frankston are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, June 12, at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with Mr. Davy Carter officiating.

Burial will follow at Frankston City Cemetery.

Randhi died Saturday, June 7, 2008 in Frankston.

She was born December 1, 1972 in Ennis to John L. Martin and Barbara Palmer Martin.

Survivors include mother, Barbara Martin and step-father, Richard Webb of Frankston; father John Martin and step-mother, Sheila Martin of Princeton; daughter, Ashlhi Jo Allen of Frankston; brother, Bobby Martin of Campbell; sister, Jennifer Martin of Chapel Hill; step-brothers, Don Smith of Princeton and Pat Walton of Princeton; niece, Jessica Martin; and nephews, Coty and Conner Martin.

Pallbearers are Bobby Martin, David Murphy, Danny Palmer, Don Smith, Pat Walton and Kenny Rollins.

The family will receive friends from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday, June 12, at the funeral home in Frankston.

James Bell

Services for James H. Bell, 75, of Flint were held Tuesday, June 10, at the Frankston Assembly of God Church with the Rev. Jay A. Griffin officiating.

Burial was in Wofford Cemetery under direction of Burks Walker Tippit Funeral Directors in Tyler.

Mr. Bell passed away Saturday, June 7, in Tyler. He was born September 13, 1932 in Many, La. to the late Jessie James and Maudie Lavada Gour Bell. He had lived in the Flint area for the past 15 years, moving from the Dallas area.

He retired from the Texas Department of Transportation as a maintenance employee, was a member of the Dallas Masonic Lodge and was a member of the Assembly of God faith.

Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Velma Bell of Flint; two sons, Gene Bell of Flint and Leon Bell of Gainsville, Ga.; a brother, Walter Maurice Bell of Bullard and three grandchildren.

James Shugart

Funeral services for James R. “Jimmy” Shugart, 76, of Frankston were held Thursday, June 5, at Autry Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Norman Pope and Ken Mullen officiating.

Burial was at Liberty Hill Cemetery in Frankston.

Mr. Shugart died June 1, 2008.

He was born Feb. 21, 1932, in Ganado to the late Houston Virgle and Diccie Clackley Shugart.

He was a member of Frankston Evangelistic Church and a retired insulator with Shanco Insulation of Longview, after almost 33 years.

Survivors include a son, Danny Shugart of Maydelle; sisters, Katie Mattern and Nancy Morton, both of Palestine, Catherine Mullen of North Little Rock, Ark., and Carol Southard of Jacksonville; three grandchildren and one greatgranddaughter.

Marvin Belcher

Graveside services for Marvin (Buck) Belcher, 74, of Athens were held Sunday, May 11, at Athens Cemetery with the Rev. Tommy Weems officiating.

Arrangements were with Carroll-Lehr Funeral Home.

Mr. Belcher died May 8, 2008 at his residence.

He was born July 31, 1933 in Brownsboro to the late Elbert Emmerson and Vera Belle Lawrence Belcher.

Following graduation from Brownsboro High School, Buck entered the United States Marine Corps and served three years during the Korean War.

Upon discharge from military service, he began working for International Business Machines and retired after 30 years of service as a computer engineer.

After residing in Pasadena for 30 years, he moved to Athens to retire.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Buddy Belcher.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Doris Belcher of Athens; son, Dale Belcher and wife, Judy of Tyler; daughters, Gail McNemar Garrett of Athens, Pam Bostick and husband Mark of Frankston; grandchildren, Marla McNemar, Kody Garrett, Kenneth ìTreyî McNemar, Ben Bostick, Brandi Derr, Brittany Looney, Blake Bostick and Kristin OíBrien; great grandchildren, Christopher, Ryan and Elizabeth Derr and Lauren OíBrien.

If desired, memorials may be made to American Cancer Society or a charity of choice.

Roger Wilcox

Services for Richard Glenn Wilcox, 53, of Athens are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday at First Baptist Church of Athens with Terry Thomison officiating.

Burial will be in Malakoff City Cemetery under direction of Cooper Funeral Home in Athens.

Mr. Wilcox died June 15, 2008 near Alto.

He was born Aug. 24, 1954, in Athens to Ovie Presley and Dorothy Robertson Wilcox.

He graduated from Athens High School in 1972 and was a lifelong resident.

He was the owner and operator of the City Market and had owned Fast Oil and Lube and One Stop Tire.

He served as president of Athens Country Club and served on the airport advisory board.

Survivors include his wife, Amy Stout Wilcox of LaRue; son, Terry Glenn Wilcox of Athens; daughters, Kimberly Kay Haning of Malakoff, Monica Mischa Wilcox of Tulsa, Okla.; stepdaughter, Susie Stout of LaRue; stepson, Cameron Meador of LaRue; mother, Dorothy Wilcox of Athens; sister, Lynn “Sissy” Rogers of Mesquite; five grandchildren; one niece; and other relatives.

Mary Lou Beard

Funeral services for Mary Lou Beard, 64, of Frankston were Tuesday, June 24, at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with Bro. George Folmer and Bro. Darin Wood officiating.

Burial followed at Frankston City Cemetery.

Mrs. Beard died Sunday, June 22, 2008 in Frankston.

She was born July 11, 1943 in Seguin, to J. D. Brooks and Mary Lou Shelton Brooks.

Mrs. Beard was a member of First Baptist Church in Frankston, the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary and was a retired United States Postal Service employee.

She was preceded in death by her husband Garnett L. Beard, father J. D. Brooks, mother Mary Lou Brooks, daughter Mary Moore and brother Raymond Brooks.

Survivors include sons, Garnett Beard of Seabrook and Michael Beard of Frankston; daughters, Darlene Sanford, of Lancaster, Serena Johnson of Valdosta, Ga. and Diana Beard of Denton; brothers, Henry Brooks and Eugene Brooks, both of Frankston; sisters, Martha Baugh of Sarepta, La., and Dora Coleman and Bertha Newman, both of Frankston; 9 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren and 12 nieces and nephews

Pallbearers were Wesley Beard, Max Beard, Kevin Beard, Raymond Brooks, Dennis Newman and Cliff Evans.

A. J. Kennedy

Funeral services for A. J. Kennedy, 83, of Jacksonville were held Tuesday, June 24, at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Jacksonville with the Rev. Ken McEachern officiating.

Burial followed at Jarratt Cemetery in Jacksonville.

Mr. Kennedy died Friday, June 20, 2008 in Tyler.

He was born June 7, 1925 in Pittsburg, Texas to Arthur Washington Kennedy and Willie Vannie Moffett Kennedy.

Mr. Kennedy served in the United States Navy during World War II, was a retired electrician and also formerly worked at Nichols-Kusan, Inc. in Jacksonville.

Mr. Kennedy was a member of Beall Chapel Baptist Church where he served as treasurer.

Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy's wedding was the first wedding held at Beall Chapel Baptist Church on June 14, 1958. He was also a member of TRTA.

He was preceded in death by sister Evelyn Kennedy and his parents.

Survivors include his spouse, Burnell “Burney” Kennedy of Jacksonville; daughter, Gail Yarbrough of Poynor; 4 grandchildren, Bo, Kevin, Tricia and Patti; 8 great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Pallbearers were Doyle Smith, Steve Compte, David Cooper, Charles Sessions, Norman Terry and Joe Cox.

Honorary pallbearers were Pete Lambright, James Smith, Paul McMillan and members of Menâ Sunday School Class of Beall Chapel Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made to Beall Chapel Baptist Church Building Fund.

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