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.)

Ken Beard

Ken Elvin Beard, 73, passed away Monday, May 19, 2014, in Texsan Heart Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, after succumbing to congestive heart failure.

Ken was born Oct. 14, 1940, to Jack Beard and Willie Mae Ezell Beard in Frankston.

In 1965, he married Dorothy Lee Muennink (deceased, 2006) and moved to Hondo, Texas, to live and raise their family.

Ken was a skilled electrician. As an electrician he traveled extensively, living in Ecuador and Israel as well as other parts of Texas.

He even operated his own electrical business for a few years and managed a video game chain as well.

Twenty-one years ago, he changed careers to become a correctional officer for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice primarily at the Ney unit in Hondo.

Throughout the years, Ken contributed to the community as a volunteer EMT (as a technician and a trainer); he was in the sheriff’s reserve; and he was also the Precinct 1 Constable.

Ken’s final contribution was to be a tissue donor.

Ken’s favorite hobbies included fishing and hunting, but in recent years he looked forward to spending time with his children and grandchildren.

He especially enjoyed bragging about his family to anybody who would listen.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents. His memory will be treasured by his family.

His children and their spouses are Kathilyn and Cabin Long; Brett and Robby Beard and Loal and Desirae Beard.

His grandchildren are Kassity Dunaway, Kori Dunaway, Dillon Long, Shelby Long, Andrew Kammer, Joshua Schueling, Cole Beard, Tanner Beard and Reagan Beard.

His brothers and their wives are Jerry and Jenny Beard; and James and Dianne Beard. His sisters-in-law and their husbands are Marianne and Buddy Sandidge, Kathryn Rowell, Rita and Lindy Mechler. His mother-in-law is Irene Muennink. He has 10 nieces and nephews.

Ken especially enjoyed a good barbeque. To best honor Ken’s legacy, a memorial barbeque was held for Ken beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 14, at the Hondo City Park. This was a wonderful time to visit with friends and family and celebrate his life by sharing stories about Ken.

Donald Isbell

Donald Robert Isbell of Frankston went to be with the Lord on May 27, 2014.

He was born Aug. 1, 1967.

He worked at the Boat Center for 14 years. He was 1/4 Black Foot Indian and was very proud of his heritage.

He is survived by his wife and best friend Tiffany Isbell Phelan; two sons Skylar Phelan and Raven Isbell; daughter Megan Isbell-Butler; sisters Charlotte Rowland and Rickie Williams; father-in-law Vince Rinchiuso; and friends Cody and Brandy Munn, Raylei and Noah Munn.

He will be deeply missed.

Dean Jaggers

Graveside funeral services for Dean Jaggers, 87, of Frankston were held Monday, June 2, 2014, at Mt. Vernon Cemetery in Mt. Vernon, Texas, under direction of Autry Funeral Home.

Mrs. Jaggers passed away Friday, May 30, 2014, in Frankston.

She was born Oct. 13, 1926, in Red River County to Charles M. and Lillie Skelton Hutson.

Dean was a member of the Church of Christ and retired from Maxwell Pharmacy.

She was preceded in death by her husband Garland Jaggers; brothers Travis Hutson, Elmer Hutson, Leonard Hutson and Charles Hutson; and sisters Edith Hester and Eva McDonugh.

Survivors include her son Tommy Jaggers and wife Brenda; daughter Judy Taylor and husband John, both children of Frankston; four grandchildren Laurie Adams, Paul Taylor, Collin Peters and Todd Jaggers and wife Kali; five great grandchildren Wade, Jasper, Wyatt, Eyrn and Paige; several nieces and nephews; and three sisters-in-law.

Honorary pallbearers were Jimmy Reynolds, Joey Maxwell, Terry Bacon, Erwin Dabbs and Chris White.

John McDonald

Funeral services for John Leslie McDonald, 73, of Frankston, were held Friday, May 30, 2014, at Hilltop Baptist Church with the Rev. George Folmar and the Rev. J. A. Griffin officiating. Interment was at Derossett Family Cemetery in Frankston.

Services were under direction of Autry Funeral Home in Frankston.

Mr. McDonald passed away Wednesday, May 27, 2014, in Tyler.

He was born March 13, 1941, in Henderson County to the late Lonzo and Willie (Perkins) McDonald.

John Leslie was a member of Hilltop Baptist Church in Frankston. He worked for the Texas Department of Public Transportation for 32 years.

Survivors include his wife Nelda McDonald; sons Gary McDonald and wife Jesseca, Jay Boykin and wife Julie, Doug Boykin and wife Jennifer; daughters Carla Strandberg and husband John, Paula Moore and husband Lance; grandchildren Katrina Simmons, Kristen Simmons, Ashley Penuela, Gary McDonald, Jr., Katy Conner, Brett Walker, Tanna Boykin, Jessy Boykin, III, Tyler Lemoine, Brandon Boykin, Victoria Moore, Hannah Moore, Brody Moore; and great grandchildren, Gavin Weckar, Liam Penuela, and Hadley Walker.

Pallbearers were Conner Griffith, James Griffith, Jason Burgamy, Lance Moore, Jess Johnson, and Gordon Folmar.

Honorary pallbearers were L. D. Burris and the deacons of Hilltop Baptist Church.

James Waldrop

Funeral services for James Lester Waldrop, Jr., 67, of Frankston, were held at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, June 4, 2014, at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with Bro. Kevin Wilmott officiating. Interment followed at Poynor Cemetery.

Mr. Waldrop passed away Sunday, June 2, 2014, in Frankston.

He was born June 6, 1946, in Olney, Texas.

James was a member of the Peerless Baptist Church in Sulphur Springs, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents James L. Waldrop, Sr. and Mary Frances Spurlock.

Survivors include his wife Ann Waldrop of Frankston; sons Aaron Waldrop of Frankston, James Waldrop of San Antonio; daughters Elizabeth Waldrop of Tyler, Dawn Darwin of Arlington; step-daughter DeAnn Horton of Ohio; brother Kenneth Waldrop of Austin; and sister Sondra Brothers of Ft. Worth.

Pallbearers were Jonathon Taylor, Jerry Lassiter, Kenneth Dickson, Ray Larson, and Donald Stevens.

Visitation was to begin one hour before the service on Wednesday, June 4, at Autry Funeral Home in Frankston.

Jane Ann Pierce

Funeral Services for Jane Ann Pierce, 60, of Bradford were held Saturday, May 31, 2014, at the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Athens with Bro. Mike Drinkard officiating. Interment followed at Liberty Cemetery in Bradford.

Mrs. Pierce passed away on May 27, 2014, in Tyler, Texas.

Jane Ann Robison Pierce was born March 3, 1954, in Cherokee County, Texas, the daughter of Claude “Bud” Edwards Robison and Mildred Kitchens Robison.

She was a member of the Poynor Baptist Church in Poynor, Texas.

She enjoyed gardening and spending time outdoors but her greatest love was her family. She was a generous, loving wife and mother and will be missed by many.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother Tom Robison.

Janie is survived by her loving husband of 45 years Roger Carl Pierce of Bradford; three children Michael Bradley Pierce and wife Jill of Geismar, Louisiana, Jennifer Lee Knight of LaRue, Joshua Carl Pierce of Palestine; grandchildren Laci Pierce, Rachael Shelton, Katelyn Knight, Jared Pierce, Colton Knight, Trent Pierce, Emily Pierce, Brayden Pierce, Bradley Pierce; great grandchildren Devin Shelton, Peyton Frazier, Branson Morris, Lukas Frazier, Jayden Morris and Kinsley Morris.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Hannigan Smith Funeral Home Family of Athens, Texas.

People may write condolences or light a memorial candle at: www.hannigansmith.com

Grover Clarence Talbert

Grover Clarence Talbert, age 82, a former pastor of First Baptist Church of Frankston, died June 10 in Huntsville, Texas.

He was born January 6, 1932, in Edgefield County, South Carolina. He was the first son of Grover Clarence Talbert, Sr., and Helen Aileen Byrd Talbert. He was preceded in death by his parents and only brother, Dr. Robert E. Talbert and his wife Jane Talbert.

Rev. Talbert became pastor at First Baptist Church in Frankston in December of 1980. He served until 1988 when his health forced him to resign. He and his family continued to live in Frankston and worship at First Baptist for several years after that until he moved to Huntsville to be closer to family.

“On many occasions, the congregation was blessed by the beautiful solo voice of the pastor,” according to a church history. “Brother T, as he was affectional called by many, tirelessly encouraged the youth of our community.”

During the pastorate of Rev. Talbert, the church purchased and paid for property in North Frankston which was formerly the site of the Frankston schools, and it is on this property that the current First Baptist facilities stand.

He graduated from Edgefield High School and received a Bachelor of Science degree from Newberry College, Newberry, South Carolina. He received his Bachelor of Divinity degree from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.

Grover answered to many names in his life: Grover Junior, Brother T., Mr. Grover, Preacher, and his favorites Pastor, PawPaw and Grandpa. At Ridgecrest Baptist Assembly, near Black Mountain, North Carolina, he met his wife of 58 years, when they served on the summer staff–he for three years, she for two. He also served as a summer missionary to the Bahama Islands as a seminary student.

He served as pastor of Reece Prairie Baptist Church, near Burleson, Texas; Springfield Baptist Church, Springfield, South Carolina; First Baptist Church, Rusk, Texas; First Baptist Church, Frankston, Texas; and two interim pastorates at First Baptist Church, Edgefield, South Carolina and Tyler Street Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Texas.

He served as president of the Trustees of Pineywoods Baptist Encampment and on various boards and committees on the associational, state, and national levels in the Southern Baptist Convention. He preached revivals in Massachusetts, Oregon, Oklahoma, Texas, and South Carolina. His travels included Israel, Egypt, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Germany, and Brazil. His collection of mustache cups was a lifetime hobby. His favorite activities included attending plays, musicals, and all kinds of sports events. Football was his favorite sport. He loved his time as chaplain for high school football teams and in retirement attending all the home football and men and women’s basketball games for Sam Houston State University.

Grover is survived by his wife, Charlotte Elaine Nations, better known as Wegi Talbert; one son, Dr. Tony Lee Talbert, and his wife, Dr. Sandra Bass Talbert, Clifton; one daughter, Tami Talbert Walker, and her husband, Richard L. Walker, Jr., Houston; three grandsons, Tyler Bass Talbert and his wife Camille, Waco, Texas, Taylor Bryce Talbert, Marshall, and Van Andrews Walker, Houston; one granddaughter, Charlotte Claire Walker, Houston, Texas; nephews, Ben Talbert and wife Nancy, Marion, North Carolina; Dr. Bob Talbert and wife Gigi, Aiken, South Carolina; one niece, Leslie Ann Key and husband Dale, Wilmington, North Carolina. He is also survived by one brother-in-law, Ronald Nations and wife Marillyn Nations of Raleigh, North Carolina. Extended family includes Jody Douglas Jordan, wife Stephenie and children Scott and Rebekah, Katy, Texas; and Vicki Jo Jordan Beard and husband David, Rusk, and children Ramey Jo Richey, Jordan Beard and John David Beard.

Pallbearers are Bob Clayton and Houston White, Rusk; Johnny Burks and Travis King, Frankston; Tom Sprott and Val Dixon, Huntsville. Funeral services will take place at 2 p.m., Thursday, at Elkins Lake Baptist Church, Huntsville, Texas, with Dr. Ken Hugghins officiating. Interment will be at Eastview Cemetery, Edgefield, South Carolina, under the direction of Sam Houston Memorial Funeral Home, Huntsville, Texas. Nephew Ben Talbert will officiate at the graveside services.

Morris ‘Buddy’ Guthrie

Services for Morris “Buddy” Guthrie, 83, of Palestine were held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, June 19, at Midway Baptist Church with the Rev. James Johnston and Martha Bing officiating.

Burial followed at Midway Cemetery in LaRue.the services were under direction of Autry Funeral Home in Frankston.

Mr. Guthrie died June 16, 2014, in Palestine.

He was born Nov. 30, 1930 in Anderson County to Bob “R. L.” Guthrie and Winnie Klutts.

He was a produce farmer.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers Sam Guthrie, Bill Guthrie, Luther Guthrie, Norris Guthrie and Wayne Guthrie.

He is survived by his sisters Ethel Berryhill of Palestine, Ina Meryl Reynolds of Breckenridge and Ann Apple of Marshall; and brother The Rev. Robert Guthrie of Palestine; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Paul Essary, Ronnie Berryhill, Billy Berryhill, Steve Williams, E. W. “Bubba” Abbott and Ricky Henderson.

Honorary pallbearers were Ricky Littlefield, Terry Bing and Wade Dickson.

Stephen Lewis Smith

Services for Stephen Lewis Smith, 63, of Brownsboro, were held Monday, June 23, 2014, at Chandler Memorial Funeral Home with James Walker officiating.

Burial was in Foster Cemetery under direction of Chandler Memorial Funeral Home.

Mr. Smith died June 20, 2014, in Tyler.

He was born Sept. 25, 1950, in Jacksonville.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1971-1972 and worked as a construction supervisor.

Survivors include wife Peggy Smith of Brownsboro; mother Margie Smith of Frankston; sons Wesley Steele and wife Andrea of Lindale, Christopher Arel and wife Courtney of Bullard; daughter Stephanie Cormier and husband Michael of Petersburg, Tennessee; sisters Linda Wells and husband Glenn of Springtown, Kay Sheeley and husband Terry of Frankston; six grandchildren; one great grandchild; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

Pallbearers were Blake Cormier, Blythe Smith, Aaron Smith, Brandon Sheeley, Jeremy Sheeley, and Kirk Wells.

William Edward Rash Jr.

William Edward Rash Jr., 59, of Palestine went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, June 14, 2014. Arrangements were under direction of Ingram Funeral Home in Quinlan.

He proudly served his country for thirteen years in the U.S. Army.

William was also a member of the Masonic Lodge.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Daisie Rash and brother, Robert Rash.

He is loved and will be missed by his wife Belinda Rash; son William E. Rash III; daughter Marie N. Gober; 6 grandchildren; father William E. Rash Sr.; and sisters Teresa Rhodes and Sherie McCathrin.

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