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.)

Lois James

Funeral services for Lois James, 82, of Conroe and formerly of Frankston were held Wednesday, April 30, 2014, at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with the Rev. David Urban and the Rev. Cindy Hinson officiating.

Mrs. James passed away Saturday, April 26, 2014 in Conroe.

She was born Jan. 5, 1932, in Houston to Fritz and Katherine Iris Schewinge.

She was a member of the United Methodist Church in Frankston.

She is preceded in death by her parents and a daughter, Tana Renee James.

Mrs. James was a supervisor for the La Petite Academy for many years. She owned a day care facility in the early 1970s.

Survivors include her husband of 61 years, Howard James of Conroe; two sons Dennis James and wife Margaret of Houston and Paul James of Conroe. Lois has a grandson, Dustin Allen James, and five great-grandchildren. Interment was at Moore Memorial Gardens, 1219 N. Davis, in Arlington, Texas.

C. L. Burris

Services for C. L. Burris, 97, of Berryville were held Saturday, May 3, at Hilltop Baptist Church.

Burris was born Aug. 26, 1916, and died April 26, 2014.

He was a resident of Berryville for almost 35 years.

Burris was a retired mechanic and construction worker.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Catherine Burris.

He is also survived by brother L.D. Burris and wife Jean of Frankston; sister Annie Capps and husband Jack of Uvalde; sons Lelon Burris and special friend Martha of Frankston, Marion Burris and wife Janet of Huffman and Kenneth Burris and special friend Shena of Frankston; daughters Pat McCollister and husband Randy of Louisiana, Brenda McMichael and special friend John of Jacksonville and Linda Hefelfinger and husband Rick of Frankston; daughter-in-law Peggy Burris of Jacksonville; 29 grandchildren; 33 great grandchildren; and one great great grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his father Marshall Burris; mother Maude Burris; brothers Marion-Finley Burris, Orvis Burris and Marchell Burris; sister Margie Burris; and son Louis Burris.

Services were under direction of Boren-Conner Funeral Home.

Betty Simmons

Funeral services for Betty Simmons, 85, of Frankston were held Saturday, May 3, 2014, at the United Methodist Church of Frankston with Pastor David Urban officiating.

Interment was at Frankston City Cemetery. Services were under the direction of Autry Funeral Home in Frankston.

Mrs. Simmons passed away Wednesday, April 30, 2014, in Athens.

Betty was born June 20, 1928 in Fouke, AR.

She was the secretary for United Methodist Church of Frankston for many years and sang in the church choir.

She was preceded in death by her parents Malcolm and Mattie Wommack; husband Johnnie Simmons; son Malcolm Simmons; and sister Marjorie Melton.

Survivors include her daughter Angie Fitzgerald and husband Joey of Athens; daughter-in-law Lisa Simmons of Okla.; 5 grandchildren Melissa Simmons, Heather Simmons, Justin Simmons and wife Katie, Taylor Fitzgerald, and Trevor Fitzgerald; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Wayne Socia, Joe Tindel, Bob Chapman, Bob Maupin, Billy Henderson and Jerry Beard.

Honorary pallbearer was Mark Tatum.

Rather than customary condolences, donations in memory of Betty Simmons may be made to the United Methodist Church of Frankston, 110 S. Weldon St., Frankston, Texas 75763.

Mary Elizabeth House Johnson

Funeral services for Mary Elizabeth House Johnson were held Monday, May 19, at the Frankston United Methodist Church.

Mary passed away on Wednesday, May 14, 2014, at The Hospice of East Texas surrounded by her family.

Mary was born Oct. 9, 1937, in Frankston, to Lucy and Cecil House.

She graduated from Texas Eastern School of Nursing in 1958, and worked as a registered nurse serving others at Methodist Hospital in Houston and East Texas Medical Center in Tyler.

Mary retired from nursing in 2000, and enjoyed her retirement spending time with her family and many friends.

She is survived by her loving husband of 54 years, Jim Tom Johnson; children Jimmy Johnson and wife Jennifer, Dana Wilson and husband Kelly; brothers Gary House and wife Sue, Roger House and wife Ann; grandchildren Jacob Johnson, Jessica Johnson, Colin Wilson, and Kelsey Wilson.

Very special family members include Phyllis Jolley, Scott House and his wife Elizabeth, Kelli Hollingsworth, and Mary’s close friend Mandy Talley and numerous nieces and nephews.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents.

Pallbearers were Payton Hutchinson, Rusty Honeycutt, Randy Honeycutt, Rusty Walker, Kent Gates, Alvin McMinn, Robert House, and Buddy Billingsley.

Honorary pallbearers were William Rouse, Bill Billingsley, Burly Lamb, Dee Gill, Jerry Bowles, Phillip Wise, Dennis Smith and Jimmy Phillips.

The family requests that donations be made to The Hospice of East Texas in Mary’s honor to 4111 University Blvd. Tyler, Texas 75701.

Curtis Elton Gauntt

Curtis Elton Gauntt, 79, of Tomball, Texas, went to the arms of Jesus on May 18, 2014.

Curtis finally won his 15-year battle with Lewy Body Dementia.

He was a proud native of LaRue where his family had lived since 1851.

He was a member of the Church of Christ and had served as both a deacon and an elder.

He was the valedictorian of the 1953 class of LaPoynor High School.

He attended Tyler Commercial College and SMU.

He worked for Texas Instruments, served a tour of duty with the Army at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico and retired from Hunt Oil Company with 24 years of service.

Curtis was preceded in death by his parents Otto Courtney and Lena Gilbert Gauntt; a sister Wanda Nell Gauntt Holder; and his stepmother Martha Upchurch Gauntt.

He is survived by his wife of nearly 58 years, Trudie Floyd Gauntt and their four children Floyd and wife Brenda of Amber, Okla, Brenda and husband Hal Hansen of Taylor, James and wife Debbie of Leonard, and Paul and wife Cassandra of Tomball.

He is also survived by his brother Kenneth Gauntt of LaRue, grandchildren Hollie Stewart of Amber, Okla., Kristie Gadke of Moore, Okla., Trey Baker of Tomball, Mandy Jones of Ozawkie, Kan., Kyle Vaughn of Leonard, Dillon Vaughn of Washington, Christian Vaughn of Lubbock and Katie Gauntt of Leonard. Also by great grandchildren Alexandria, Allison, Addilyn and Adam Steward, Jace and Colton Gadke, Rylee and Garrett Baker and Paxton and Finnly Jones.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 31, 2014, at 1 p.m. at the LaPoynor Church of Christ on Hwy. 175 with visitation after the service.

A private family burial will be held at Myrtle Springs Cemetery in LaRue.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to the Lewy Body Dementia Association, Inc. 912 Killian Hills Rd, S.W., Lilburn, GA 30047.

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