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.)

Glenna Suzette Creel

Funeral services for Glenna Suzette Creel, 52, of Frankston were held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 30, at Burks Walker Tippet Chapel in Tyler with Rev. James Farmer officiating.

Burial was in the Frankston City Cemetery.

Mrs. Creel died Monday, Oct. 27, after a lengthy illness.

She was born in Clayton, N.M. on Aug. 16, 1951. She went to Dalhart High School and Frank Phillips Jr. College where she received her LVN nursing license. Mrs. Creel was a dedicated nurse and worked at Coon Memorial Hospital in Dalhart. In her later years she was a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her father, Calvin Glen Crowell.

Survivors include her husband, Bobby Creel of Frankston; her mother, Betty Crowell of Dalhart; two sons and daughters-in-law, James Shawn and Amanda Poyner, Michael Chad and Teresa Poyner, all of Tyler; four sisters and their husbands, Karen and Denny O’Hara of Amarillo, Mickie and Jerry Hunter, Debbie and Tim Dailey all of Dalhart, and Jill Mathews of Amarillo; grandchildren, Tyson Poyner, Ashlynn Poyner, Colton Poyner, Kaelan Poyner, Madalynn Poyner, Bailey Poyner, Jessica Poyner, Hagen Poyner and Taylor Poyner; and many special friends and relatives.

Pallbearers were Doug Creel, John Creel, David Mitchell, Todd Smith, Denny O’Hara and Jerry Hunter.

Anna Lue Reschke

Funeral services for Anna Lue Reschke, 68, of Flint were held Tuesday, Nov. 4, at 10 a.m. at Thompson Funeral Home in Frankston with Pastor Todd Peavy officiating.

Burial was in Wilson Chapel in Kaufman.

Mrs. Reschke died Friday, Oct. 31, in a Tyler hospital.

She was born March 2, 1935 in Albuquerque, N.M. Mrs. Reschke was a member of Lake Community Baptist Church in Dogwood City and a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Johnny Lloyd Reschke; her parents, J.C. and Verdie Bunch; and children, Jimmy Doyle Warren, Talton Lloyd Reschke and Mary Reschke.

Survivors include sons, John Reschke of Frankston, Donald Reschke of Wills Point, Glen Reschke of Kaufman and Elden Reschke of Mabank; daughters, Debbie Vrzalik, Glenda Baker, Karen McClane, all of Kaufman, and LaWanda Bailey of Bullard; brothers, Jimmy Udell Bunch of Hawaii; 24 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

Carrie Belle Haynes

Funeral services for Carrie Belle Hayes, 99, of Frankston were held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Assembly of God in Frankston with Rev. J.A. Griffin officiating.

Burial was in Wofford Cemetery under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home, Frankston.

Mrs. Haynes died Wednesday, Nov. 5, in a Tyler hospital.

She was born Sept. 8, 1904 in Frankston. Mrs. Haynes was a member of the Assembly of God, Frankston, and was a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Julian (J.B.) Haynes; a daughter, Mary Aretas Acree; and a grandson, Brad Greenwood.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, Dan Moody Haynes and Stella Haynes of Bullard; three grandchildren, Bryan Greenwood of Leander, Jud Haynes of Austin, Jason Haynes and wife, Tracy of Baytown; two great-grandchildren, Alana Rose Greenwood and Justin Greenwood, both of Leander; and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Charles Dickerson, Charles Adams, Clifton Baker, Jerry Burks, Gary Beard and Terry Bacon.

Honorary pallbearers were Bobby Grantham, Larry Selman, Adam Selman and members of the Auditorium Bible Class.

Memorials may be made to the Frankston Depot Library or the Frankston Assembly of God.

Lewis Dudley Murphey

Funeral services for Lewis Dudley Murphey, 84, of Frankston were held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at the Assembly of God in Frankston with Rev. J.A. Griffin officiating.

Burial was held at the Liberty Hill Cemetery under direction of Thompson Funeral Home.

Mr. Murphey died Wednesday, Nov. 5, in Tyler.

He was born Oct. 9, 1919 in Frankston. Mr. Murphey was a retired aircraft fabricator and a member of the Assembly of God.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Vivian Murphey, and sons, James Larry Murphey and Danny Lewis Murphey.

Survivors include sons, Richard Murphey and David Murphey, both of Frankston; a brother, Truitt Murphey of Waco; a sister, Marie Stringfield of Poynor; eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

J.W. (Duck) Burks

Funeral services for J.W. (Duck) Burks, 92, of Frankston was held Saturday, Nov. 15, at 11 a.m. at Mt. Olive Sand Flat Baptist Church with Rev. Lonnie Ross officiating, under the direction of John R. Harmon Undertaking Co. in Tyler.

Burial was in the Mt. Olive Sand Flat Cemetery.

He died Saturday, Nov 8, at his residence.

He was born June 6, 1911 in Frankston and attended Carver High School. Mr. Burks was a lifetime resident of Anderson County and was a member of the Mt. Olive Sand Flat Baptist Church. He was a farmer and carpenter.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife.

Survivors include sons, James Burks of Athens, Joe L. Burks of Berryville, Oscar L. “Cheetah” Burks of Frankston; daughters, Vernell Yepp of Hempstead and Dorothy Ellis of Frankston; 17 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers were Renard Burks, Damien Burks, Kenneth Yepp, Romel Ellis, Pete Burks, Ramsey Flowers, Kirk Jones, Carnester Ellis, David Ellis, Glen S. Ellis and Terry Burks.

Honorary pallbearers were Joe Reed, John Smith, Lewis Field, Lubbock Smith, Lawrence Polk and Robert Smith.

Elvin (Tony) Elrod

Funeral services for Elvin (Tony) Elrod, 76, of Brushy Creek were held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at Bailey & Foster Chapel in Palestine with Rev. Larry Krohn, Dr. Jerry Elrod, Bro. Thomas Pratt and Bro. Robert Rachuig officiating.

Burial was in Olive Branch Cemetery at Brushy Creek with arrangements under the direction of Bailey & Foster, Palestine.

He died Monday, Nov. 17 after a lengthy illness.

Mr. Elrod was born to George Oscar and Amanda Pearly Cook Elrod on Aug. 30, 1927 at their homeplace in Brushy Creek.

He graduated from Frankston High School and served two years in the U.S. Navy. He married Dovie Killebrew in 1948 and they moved to Pasadena. Mr. Elrod worked at Champion Paper Mill for 37 years. Upon retirement, he and Mrs. Elrod moved back to his homeplace in Brushy Creek where they became very active in their community. He was treasurer of the Brushy Creek United Methodist Church for 17 years, and president of the Brushy Creek Arbor Homecoming Assn. for 10 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Cullen, Joe and J.C. Elrod; sisters, Clyde Starley, Grace Dean, Emily Shreptrine, Texas Culver, Mary Lou Smith; and parents-in-law, Ed and Lillie Killebrew.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Dovie Killebrew Elrod; a son, George Edward Elrod of Pasadena; a daughter, Ann Elrod Seaman of Pasadena; granddaughter, Mandi Kay Seaman and special friend, Joshua Price of Katy; daughter, Sharon Elrod Taylor and son-in-law, Jon Taylor; a grandson, Britton Elrod Taylor of Pasadena; a twin brother, Melvin Elrod and wife, Mary Jo, of Brushy Creek; a sister, Faye Elrod McIntyre of Palestine; numerous other relatives, nieces, nephews; and special friend, Bro. Robert Rachuig.

Pallbearers were George Grant, Gerald Taylor, D.H. Grogan, W.D. Ramey, Mayo Idom, Benny Loftin, Edd Sandell and Barney Baggett.

Honorary pallbearers were Jim Perry, Jimmy Overton, Snapper Mosley, Eddie Randall, and all the members of the Brushy Creek Methodist Men.

The family suggests that donations may be made in Mr. Elrod’s name to the United Methodist Church of Brushy Creek, or to the Hospice of East Texas in Tyler.

Terry Lee Emerton

Memorial services for Terry Lee Emerton, 50, of Frankston, formerly of Ferris, were held Sunday, Nov. 23, at 1 p.m. at the VFW Post 5073 in Frankston.

He died at his home Friday, Nov. 14.

Mr. Emerton was born Nov. 13, 1953 in Bauxite, Ark. He was a pastry chef and a painter.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Gracie Mae Starke; his father, Thomas Harvey Emerton; step-father, Charlie Starke; and brothers, Jeff William Kenner and Thomas Aubrey Emerton; a nephew, Robert Seth Emerton; and a niece, Cheryl Lynn Stout.

Survivors are brothers and sisters, Donna Emerton of Red Oak, Tina Adams of Clallam Bay, Wash., Frank Emerton of Grandview, Glenn Emerton of Bottom, Okla. and Belinda Townley of Palmer; a son, Shawn Phillip Emerton of Ferris; a daughter, Heather Louise Smith of Bullard; granddaughters, Cassidene Renee and Mae Lynn Smith, both of Bullard; and many nieces and nephews.

Theresa James Terry

Funeral services for Theresa James Terry, 82, Hernando, Miss., formerly of Frankston, were held at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 14, at Forest Hill Funeral Home South with burial in Stephenson Chapel Cemetery in Memphis, Tenn.

Mrs. Terry died Wednesday, Nov. 12, in Southhaven, Miss.

She was a retired bookkeeper, and a member of Hinds Chapel United Methodist Church and Quota Club of Memphis.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Hall J. Terry.

Survivors include four sisters, Ladye Hazel of Germantown, Tenn., Wilma Wright of Olive Branch, Miss., Carolyn Rogers of Cordova, Tenn, Bonnie Boling of Walls, Miss.; four brothers, Robert James of Huntsville, Ala., Howard James of Frankston, Rogers James of Mountain View, Ark. and Raymond James of Lake Cormorant, Miss.

Hazel Wylie

Funeral services for Hazel Wylie, 84, of Athens were held Saturday, Nov. 15, at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Frankston with Rev. J.A. Griffin and Rev. Eddie Hilburn officiating, under the direction of Autry Funeral Home, Jacksonville.

Burial was in Frankston City Cemetery.

Mrs. Wylie died Thursday, Nov. 13, in Athens.

She was born Sept. 19, 1919 in Frankston. Mrs. Wylie was a retired bank teller and was a Baptist.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Wylie.

Survivors include a daughter, Margaret Jane Dansby of Athens; very special friend, Hobb Atwood of Frankston; a sister, Jean Billingsley of Frankston; grandchildren, Marla Leigh and Dan Donohue and Wade Wylie Dansby; great grandchildren, Clint Donohue and Madison Donohue.

Pallbearers were Jimmy Westbrook, James Kinsey, Bryan Atwood, Donnie Locke, Cody Wylie and Jack Schwartz.

Martha Rae Austin

Memorial services for Martha Rae Austin, 70, of Rancho Mirage, Calif. were held at 12 noon Wednesday, Nov. 26, at the Wofford Cemetery in Frankston with Rev. John Woodard officiating.

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

Ms. Austin died Thursday, Nov. 13, in a Rancho Mirage, Calif. hospital.

She was born Sept. 3, 1933 in Texas.

Ms. Austin was a psychotherapist and a Presbyterian.

Rachel Beard

Funeral services for Rachel Elizabeth Beard, 83, of Garland, formerly of Frankston were held Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 10 a.m. in the chapel at Williams Funeral Home in Garland. Graveside services were at 2:30 p.m. in the Frankston City Cemetery.

Mrs. Beard died Sunday, Nov. 16.

She was born Nov. 9, 1920 in Frankston.

Mrs. Beard was preceded in death by her husband, John Woodrow Beard.

Survivors include a son, Frank Beard and his wife, Debbie Beard of Richmond; a daughter, Sylvia Lipscomb and her husband, Charles Lipscomb of Garland; a sister, Billye Richards and husband, Bobby Richards of Lake Jackson; six grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, two nieces and two nephews.

F.B. (Tom) Elliott III

Graveside services for Forest B. “Tom” Elliott III, 58, Bremond, father of Frankston residents, were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at Norwood Cemetery with the Rev. Jimmy Sanders officiating under direction of Memorial Funeral Home, Hearne.

Mr. Elliott died Friday, Nov. 21.

He was born May 21, 1945, in Jacksonville.

Survivors include his sons, John Paul Elliott and Stephen W. Elliott, both of Frankston, and Michael Elliott of Conroe; his father, F.B. Elliott Jr., Hearne; brothers, Jerry M. Elliott, Hearne, and Scott Elliott, Bryan; and two grandsons.

Jessie Lula Pagitt

Funeral services for Jessie Lula Pagitt, 95, of Athens were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 26, in the Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with Bro. Lowell Schochler officiating.

Burial was in the Poynor Cemetery.

She died Sunday, Nov. 23 in an Athens nursing home.

Mrs. Pagitt was born in Fincastle. She was a homemaker and a member of Poynor Baptist Church. She was a resident of Poynor for 42 years and an Athens nursing home resident for the past eight years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Stafford Pagitt; three sons, Joe Pagitt, Gene Pagitt and Bob Pagitt; one grandson, Bobby Pagitt; and six brothers and one sister.

Survivors include a daughter, Sue Sparks of Alvin; a son-in-law, Jim Sparks of Alvin; daughters-in-law, Maxine Pagitt of Athens and Joyce Pagitt of Alvin; 14 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Gary Pagitt, Rickie Pagitt, Thomas Pagitt, Bill Pagitt, Jimmy Dickerson and Gene Dickerson.

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