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.)

Estelle Emerson

Funeral services for Estelle Hanna Emerson, 93, of Frankston were held Tuesday, June 2, 2009 at the Frankston Church of Christ with Davy Carter and Don Canter officiating.

Burial was held at Poynor Cemetery.

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

Mrs. Emerson died Saturday, May 30, 2009 at home.

She was born November 19, 1915.

Mrs. Emerson was an active member of the Church of Christ. She was also active in prison ministries, supported many orphanages and was a beauty operator for many years.

She is preceded in death by husband, Clifford Emerson in 2005, her parents, Jim and Lotte Hanna.

Survivors include several nieces and nephews and several great nieces and nephews.

Nephews will serve as pallbearers.

Beverly Ballard

Memorial services for Mrs. Beverly Kay Arrants Ballard were held Monday, June 1, 2009 at Methodist Church of Slaton, Texas (305 W. Lubbock) with Steve Campbell officiating.

Mrs. Ballard passed away at the age of 58 on May 29, 2009 in Frankston, Texas.

Beverly was born June 26, 1950 in Slaton, Texas to the late Max and Gertrude Arrants. She had been a resident of Frankston for seven years, formerly living in Slaton, Lubbock, Dallas, Corpus Christi, Houston, Oklahoma and several other places.

She was a mom, wife, and friend and had different careers including sales representative, communications coordinator, and a business owner.

Survivors include her husband, Patrick Ballard of Frankston; son, Rusty McCarty of Glassboro, NJ; and two sisters, Cherie Poer of Slaton and Barbara Wilke of Lubbock.

Pat Dickerson House

Frankston business woman Pat Dickerson House, 82, owner of Merle Norman Studio on Hwy. 155 North, died Saturday, June 6, 2009, in Tyler.

She had recently returned from the Merle Norman National Convention where she received her 45-year pin for service to the company. Her studio had been named “business of the year” in 2008 by the Lake Palestine Chamber of Commerce.

Funeral services were held Wednesday, June 10, at First Baptist Church in Frankston with the Rev. Darin Wood officiating.

Burial was to have followed at Frankston City Cemetery.

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

She was born October 23, 1926, in Poynor, to Monroe Jefferson Dickerson, Sr., and Katy Belle McKinley Dickerson.

Mrs. House was a member of First Baptist Church of Frankston, where she was a member of Lydia Sunday School Class, was formerly a beautician and was a Merle Norman Beauty Consultant and owner for 45 years in Frankston, Austin and other cities and was a member of Lake Palestine Area Chamber of Commerce.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Monroe and Katy Belle Dickerson; husband, J. C. House; daughter, Janne Vanwinkle and brother, Paul Dickerson.

Survivors include son, Jackie House of Austin; brother, M. J. Dickerson, Jr. of Athens; sisters, Billie Henderson of Plant City, Fla., Barbara Hanks of Poynor and Darlyne Barnette of Calender Lake; three grandchildren; Julie, David and Jennifer; and three great-grandchildren James, Mikayla and Kyle.

Pallbearers were Mark House, Roger House, Gary House, Mike Hanks, Tommy Dickerson, Kris Hanks, Jeff Fite, Glenn Henderson and Jimmy Johnson.

Honorary pallbearers were her great nephews.

Betty Parsons

Betty Lucille Parsons, 69, passed away on June 2, 2009 in Irving.

She was born on March 21, 1940 in Frankston.

Betty had been a resident of Irving since 1978 when she also began her career at Plymouth Park Baptist Church.

At Plymouth Park she held many positions in her 30 years of service. She was secretary to minister of pastoral care, assistant to minister of single adults, minister of senior adults and minister of education, she was the coordinator for the JOY Group, coordinator for the extended session and night nursery, receptionist and the church secretary/ clerk.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ted Monroe Parsons.

She is survived by her son, David Parsons and wife, Patrice of Denison; grandson, Kiernan Parsons of Denison; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Linda and Terry Cullender of Grand Prairie; and numerous cousins.

Funeral services were Friday, June 05, at Plymouth Park Baptist Church. Interment followed at Grove Hill Memorial Park in Dallas.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Chapel of Roses Funeral Home.

Ten of her classmates from the Frankston High School Class of 1958 attended her funeral and said she will be greatly missed at the annual reunion.

Gary Dunklin

Graveside services for Gary Wayne Dunklin, 61, of Centerville were held Monday, June 8, at Poynor Cemetery with the Rev. Jim Boyte officiating.

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

Mr. Dunklin passed away Thursday, June 4, 2009 in Centerville.

He was born November 27, 1947 in Jacksonville, to James Layfette Dunklin and Cora Inez Ward Dunklin.

Mr. Dunklin was a Methodist and a commercial sprinkler fitter.

He is preceded in death by his parents James Layfette Dunklin and Cora Inez Ward Dunklin and stepmother Betty Lou Dunklin.

Survivors include his wife, Deborah Dunklin of Centerville; sons, Gary Dunklin, Jr. of Worth, James Willis and John Wells, both of Houston; daughter, Lisa Miller and husband Chris of Austin; sisters, Carolyn Murray of Channelview, Linda Gressley of Edgewood, Mary Gaither of Jeanerette, La. and Traci McNeil and Tami Rosas, both of Broken Bow, Okla.; brother, Charles Dunklin of Peoria, Illinois; four grandchildren, Chase Miller of Austin, Savannah Grace of Fort Worth, Cameron Wells and Chelse Wells, both of Huffman; and several nieces and nephews.

Mary Jennings

Mary Bell Jennings, 91, lifetime resident of the Haworth area passed away on Saturday, May 30, 2009 in Tyler.

She was born on January 15, 1918 in Wapanucka, Oklahoma, the daughter of Mansfield and Clessie Fletcher Harrison.

Mary Bell had numerous friends and family in the Frankston area.

She was an accomplished homemaker, raising 13 children. She enjoyed watching Christian videos and spending time with her family. Mary Bell was a devoted Christian and a member of the Assemblies of God.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Willie S. Jennings; a son, Billy Joe Jennings; great-granddaughter, Christen Beard; and a daughter-in-law, Mildred “Hoppy” Jennings.

Mary Bell is survived by her sons, Richard of Haworth, Charles of Houston, Kirby of Montalba, Stephen of Wylie, Elvin of Arkadelphia, Glen of Hawkins, Gary of Donaldson, Larry of Raleigh, NC and Roger of Hot Springs; daughters, Brenda of Hawkins, Mary Ann and Rebecca, both of Frankston; brother, Lewis Harrison of Idabel; a sister, Lorene Harris of the Holly Creek Community; 45 grandchildren; 60 great-grandchildren; 16 great-great-grandchildren; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and a host of friends.

R. E. (Bob) Phillips

Funeral services for R. E. “Bob” Phillips, 83, a former mayor of Frankston in the 1970s, were held Tuesday, June 16, 2009, at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with the Rev. Doug Howell officiating. Burial followed at Frankston City Cemetery.

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

Mr. Phillips passed away on Friday, June 12, 2009, in Tyler.

He was born April 3, 1926, in Du Bois, Pa., to Harry Phillips and Minnie Heilburn Phillips.

Mr. Phillips was a member of United Methodist Church of Frankston. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was the former owner of Phillips Oil Co. in Frankston.

He was a member of William Foster Masonic Lodge AF&AM in Frankston, where he served as district deputy grand master and secretary. He held a 50-year pen, The Golden Trowel Award, is an endowed and a life member of his lodge, and holds a life certificate.

He has been the worthy patron of the Eastern Star, life member of the Scottish Rite and belongs to the York Rite and Shrine. He was a former judge and past master three times.

He is preceded in death by his first wife Catherine Phillips, his second wife Janice Phillips, and daughter Sandra Ann Perkins.

Survivors include his son, Bobby Phillips and wife Sheila of Spring; step daughters, Janisue Beard and husband Spencer and Jeanne Malone and husband Vic, all of Frankston; step son, Johnny Hardiman of Eastland; sister, Betty Laborde of Du Bois, Pa; four grandchildren, Brandy, Brian, Holly and Heather; and five great grandchildren, Hunter, Harley, Stone, Blake and Zach.

Pallbearers were the Masons.

J. M. (Bo) Lookabaugh

A memorial service for John Mark (Bo) Lookabaugh was held on Saturday, June 13, at 5 p.m. at The United Methodist Church of Frankston with the Rev. Doug Howell officiating.

Bo Lookabaugh passed away in Frankston at the age of 80 on June 11.

He was born on August 26, 1928 on the family farm south of Frankston to Ray and Gladys Lookabaugh who preceded him in death.

Also preceding him in death are his granddaughter, Joy Harrison; sisters, Mildred Bell, Ruth Rawlings; and brother, Brient Ray Lookabaugh.

Bo graduated from Frankston High School. He married his high school sweetheart, Joy Menge, in 1950. They were in the oil exploration business from 1949 to 1976, owning Lookabaugh Drilling Company.

He and his family lived in 65 towns in the Rocky Mountain area until he retired and moved back to Frankston to be a rancher on the family acreage. Bo and Joy have had Joy’s Day Care for 33 years. He has been a surrogate grandfather to generations of children in the Frankston area.

Bo was a Mason and member of William Foster Lodge No. 312 in Frankston.

He was a man who loved hunting and fishing and loved the land.

Mr. Lookabaugh is survived by his wife of 58 years, Joy Menge Lookabaugh of Frankston; son and daughter-in-law, Mark and Pat Lookabaugh; daughters, Patty Lookabaugh of Frankston, Dona Lookabaugh of Wimberley; sisters, Louise Brown of Berryville and Jane Lookabaugh Dimambro of Tyler; grandchildren Jacob, John, Daniel and Rozanna; and five great-grandchildren, Cassity, Waylon, William, Madison and Layne.

The family requests donations to the Mike Jones Scholarship Fund at Wheeler Auto Supply or the Heifer Project International at www.heifer.org/myregistry/bolookabaugh.

Kristie Richards Morris

Services for Kristie Richards Morris, 22, of Frankston will be held at the Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston on Saturday, June 20, at 10 a.m.

Burial will follow in Frankston City Cemetery under the direction of Autry Funeral Home in Frankston.

Mrs. Morris died on Tuesday, June 16, 2009 in a Tyler hospital.

She was born Feb. 27, 1987 to Mike Richards and Terry Dreier.

She was a homemaker and a Baptist.

Mrs. Morris is survived by her mother, Terry Dreier of LaRue; father, Mike Richards of Maydelle; a son, Jacob Willingham of LaRue; a daughter, Presley Morris of Frankston; a brother and sister-in-law, Raymond and Meagan Brooks of Frankston; a sister and brother-in-law, Julie and Kevin McDonald; grandparents, Mamie Miller of LaRue and Amos and Louise Richards of Jacksonville; and several aunts and uncles.

A visitation has been scheduled for Friday, June 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Autry Funeral Home in Frankston.

Memorials may be made to First State Bank of Frankston for the Kristie Morris Family.

Katie Erin Shelton

Katie Erin Shelton passed away Thursday, June 18, 2009 at Parkland Hospital in Dallas.

Funeral services are scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at the Church of Christ in Poynor with Steve Handley officiating.

Katie was born Aug. 11, 1988 in Athens to Glenda McCord of Poynor and David Shelton of Palestine.

She made a home in Seven Points with Joe Myers and son, Joseph Myers.

Katie went to school at LaPoynor ISD.

She loved playing basketball. Her family and friends will forever share memories made on that basketball court with Katie.

Although her time on this earth was short, she made a lasting impact on those who knew her. Smiles will cross family and friends’ lips as they remember the times they shared with her.

Survivors include her mother, Glenda McCord and step father, Jason McCord of Poynor; father, David Shelton of Palestine; sisters, Megan Smiley of Tyler and Teah Smiley of Athens; and brother, Jonathan Shelton of Poynor.

The family said all are welcome to come and share one final memory with Katie on Thursday night with all of those who loved her.

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