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.)

Blanche M. Meritt

Graveside services for Blanche M. Meritt, 89, of Oceanside, California will be held at the Eternal Hills Cemetery on Friday, March 5.

Mrs. Meritt died Feb. 26, 2010.

She was born June 24, 1920 in Frankston to Elmer and Gertrude Cole.

She graduated from Lon Morris College in Jacksonville in 1940 and was a federal civil service agent at Camp Pendelton, California for 23 years. She was a member of the Oceanside Emblem Club.

Mrs. Meritt was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years Herbert Meritt Jr, and a son Michael Meritt.

She is survived by a son, Daniel Meritt of Carlsbad, Calif.; daughters in law, Cynthia Meritt of Carlsbad and Nancy Schmitz of Knoxville, Tenn.; grandchildren, Paige Endo of Concord, Calif., Shelly Meritt Iten of Newington, Ga., William Schmitz of Lexington, SC, Scott Meritt of Carlsbad Calif., and Laurie Pfankuch of Oceanside, Calif.; and seven great grandchildren.

Blanche was loved by everyone she met. She, by nature, lived a life of kindness and she died without having made a single enemy.

Dorothy Jean Loftin

Funeral Services for Dorothy Jean Loftin, 82, of Conroe, were held Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at the Metcalf Funeral Home Chapel.

Interment was held at the Jacksonville City Cemetery in Jacksonville, following the services.

Jean was born June 29, 1927, in Jacksonville, and passed away February 26, 2010, in Conroe.

She was a devoted wife, loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother.

Jean was a Christian lady who taught her children how to play. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Frankston.

Mrs. Loftin is preceded in death by her step-son, Sonny Loftin.

She is survived by her loving husband, John William Loftin; her loving daughter, Brenda Loftin Harrell and husband David; her devoted son, James Loftin and wife Jeanice; sisters, Gwen Hoffman and Ruth Dark; brother, Louis Clakley and wife Betty; grandchildren, David Harrell and wife Tammie, Kim Adams and husband Corey, Amanda Stambolis and husband Tim, Jason Loftin and wife Amanda, Judy Wilson and husband Jeff, Audra Wyatt and husband Craig Loftin; great grandchildren, Haley Loftin, Jace Loftin, Caden Stambolis, Madison and Sean Adams, Jacob Wilson, Emma Harrell, Garrett Wyatt.

Pallbearers were Jason Loftin, David Harrell, Corey Adams, Jeff Wilson, Tim Stambolis and Shannon Clakley.

The family requests donations be made in her honor to the American Heart Association, 10060 Buffalo Speedway, Houston, Texas 77054.

Wilburn ‘Tuffy’ Roberts

Funeral services for Wilburn “Tuffy” Roberts, 90, of LaRue, were held Monday, March 8, at Poynor Baptist Church, with the Rev. G. C. Folmar, the Rev. Jim Boyett and Tom Ferguson officiating.

Interment followed at Poynor Cemetery.

Mr. Roberts passed away Friday, March 5, 2010 at his home.

He was born May 13, 1919 in Poynor.

Mr. Roberts was a retired produce farmer. He served in the army during WWII.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Jerry and Hattie Boles Roberts; sons, Charles, Donny and Ricky Lynn; a brother, Wayne; and two sisters, Jean and Florene.

He is survived by his spouse, Eloise Roberts; four sons, Bill and Linda Roberts of Van, David and Pam Roberts of LaRue, Mike and Jennifer Roberts of Caldwell, and Buster and Denise Roberts of LaRue; six daughters, Betty Bates of Louisiana, Linda and Tom Ferguson of Colorado, Judy Davis of Athens, Pam and Russell Morton of Rockdale, Sissy and Robbie Moss of LaRue, and Patsy Roberts of Beaumont; 27 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Grandsons served as pallbearers.

Morris Ray Baker

Funeral services for Morris Ray Baker, 75, of Frankston, will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 20, 2010 at First Baptist Church, Frankston.

Burial with full Military Honors will be in the Frankston City Cemetery under the direction of Autry Funeral Home, Frankston. The Rev. Tommy Payne and Jon Bergstrom will officiate.

Mr. Baker passed away in Tyler Friday, March 12, 2010.

He was born March 6, 1935 in Frankston. Mr. Baker was a ret. aircraft dispatcher in the United States Air Force. After his tour of duty in the Air Force, he was a heavy equipment operator, and later retired from the Texas Department of Criminal Justice as a correctional officer.

Mr. Baker was a member of Carpenter’s Cross Church in Flint.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Woodrow and Ila Baker; a sister, Marilyn Dixon; a step-brother, Butch Collins; and step-sister, Bonnie Stewart.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years Loretta Baker of Frankston; two daughters, Kara Marie Groll, of Brumley, Mo., and Kistal Ann Bergstrom and husband Jon of Frankston; and a brother, Kara Frank and wife Gale Baker of Greenville.

Mr. Baker’s grandchildren include Tyler and Justin Bergstrom, Jeremiah and Kyle Groll, Serenity Pruitt, and Maurissa Rae Lines. His great grandsons are Skylar, Braeden, Austin, Jared, Hunter, Jasen and Nathen.

Pallbearers are Justin Bergstrom, Tyler Bergstrom, Kyle Groll, Jeremiah Groll, Jon Bergstrom, and Kara Baker.

Memorials may be made to The American Cancer Society for Multiple Myeloma Research.

Visitation with the Baker Family will be from 6 until 8 p.m. Friday, March 19, 2010 at Autry Funeral Home in Frankston.

Zach Eggen

Services for Zachary McFarlin ‘Zach’ Eggen, 26, Troup were held Monday, March 15, at the First United Methodist Church, Troup with the Rev. Mike Cline officiating.

Burial followed in the McDonald Cemetery in Troup.

Mr. Eggen died Thursday, March 11, 2010 in Palestine.

He was born June 5, 1983 in LaRue to Stanley and Tammy McFarlin Eggen.

He had been a resident of Troup since 2003. Zach was a graduate of LaPoynor High School and was employed as a superintendent by T.C. Construction Company.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, LaRue.

He married Amanda LaMotte, May 17, 2008.

Survivors include his wife, Amanda Eggen of Troup; his daughter, Leah Eggen of Troup; parents, Stanley and Tammy Eggen of LaRue; brothers, Nathan Eggen of Tyler and Nicholas Eggen of LaRue; sisters, Lacey Eggen of LaRue and Tiffany Eggen of Shady Oaks; grandparents, Carter Eggen of Frankston and Stan and Kathy McFarlin of Arizona; father-in-law, and mother-in-law, Ronnie and Val LaMotte of Troup; four nieces and five nephews.

Pallbearers were Nathan Eggen, Nicholas Eggen, Joe LaMotte, David LaMotte, Bobby LaMotte, and Jimmy Gatlin.

Memorials, if desired may be made to Horace Dwayne McDonald, FBO, Zach Eggen, 0200804516 at Austin Bank.

Tommy Smith

Memorial services for Tommy Frank Smith, 67, of Frankston were held Sunday, March 14, at Balentine Family Cemetery with Brother Doug Howell officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Bailey & Foster, in Palestine.

Mr. Smith died Wednesday at his residence. He was born August 8, 1942 in Commerce, Texas to Clyde William and Mary Frances Roberts Smith. He was a commercial printer and retired.

Mr. Smith was preceded in death by his father; a brother, Mike Smith; and his step-father Howard Balentine.

He is survived by his mother, Frances Balentine of Frankston; daughters, Mitzi Lori Storey and husband Donnye of Athens, Tomi DeAnn Gerami of Texas City; a son, James Howard “Bubba” Smith and wife Kathie of Bryan; two sisters, Sandra Baxter and husband Allan and Linda Mascorro and husband Steve all of Frankston; eleven grandchildren; one great grandchild and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family requests memorials be made to the Division for the Blind, Tyler Field Office, 1121 ESE Loop 323, Building 1 Suite 106, Tyler, TX. 75701

To view online, leave condolences or sign the guest book go to www.baileyandfosterfuneralhome.com

R. J. Grubbs

Funeral services for R.J. Grubbs, 83, of Frankston were held Sunday, March 7, 2010 at Autry Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. J.A. Griffin officiating.

Burial took place at Liberty Hill Cemetery in Frankston.

Mr. Grubbs passed away at home on Thursday, March 4, 2010 in Poynor.

He was born in Poynor on Nov. 14, 1926 to Luther and Eva Belle (Howell) Grubbs.

Mr. Grubbs attended the Assembly of God in Frankston. He was retired from the U.S. Air Force with 26 years of service and was a senior master sergeant.

He was also retired from the Upper Neches River Water Authority after more than 20 years.

He was preceded in death by a son, Robert Grubbs.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Hazel Grubbs of Frankston; sons, Dennis Grubbs of Frankston and David Grubbs and wife Carolyn of Poynor; daughters, Glenda Dixon and husband David, Sue Reeves and husband Mike of Austin, Mary Hokit and husband Billy of Frankston, and Lori Grubbs of Tyler; sister, Louise Cook of Jacksonville, beloved mother-in-law, Lorena Jones of Frankston; 20 grandchildren; 42 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were his grandsons.

Memorials may be made to the Mike Jones Scholarship Fund c/o Jerry Jones, P.O. Box 146 Frankston.

Ethylene King

Services for Ethylene King, of Cuney, were held Saturday, March 20, at Highland Height Church of Christ in Houston, under the direction of O.W. Wiley Mortuary.

Burial followed at the nearby Beautiful Cemetery in the Acre Homes area.

Ms. King, 77, passed away on Tuesday, March 9, 2010, in Houston. When in good health, on Sunday afternoons, she would visit the sick. Always willing to help the less fortunate, she was raised by her loving uncle, the late Henry Silmon, whom she affectionately called “Daddy.”

For several decades, Ms. King was the owner/operator of Ethylene’s Liquor Store in Cuney. In 1996, she ran for and became the first female mayor of Cuney. She served two terms.

She is survived by two sons, Lester and Kim; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; nieces; nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.

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