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.)

Bobby Gene Bizzell

Funeral services for Bobby Gene Bizzell, 64, of Houston were held at 1 p.m Friday, Oct. 15, at the Church of Christ in Frankston, with John Thompson and Johnny Anders, ministers, officiating.

A graveside service followed at the Frankston City Cemetery.

A funeral service was also held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, in the chapel of the Settegast-Kopf Co., funeral directors, in Houston with Michael Harbour, minister, officiating.

Dr. Bizzell died Monday, Oct. 11, in Houston

He was born Sept. 13, 1940 in Frankston.

Dr. Bizzell attained his B.B.A., M.B.A. and Ph.D degrees from The University of Texas at Austin. He was the Dean of Business at the University of Houston Downtown since 1989. Dr. Bizzell was also Professor and Department Head of The School of Business at Stephen F. Austin State University from 1970 to 1989.

He was preceded in death by a daughter, Susan Leigh Bizzell.

Survivors include his wife of 13 years, Glenda Bizzell; children, Laurie Bizzell Bandy and husband Glenn, Amy Bizzell Stow and husband Geoffrey, Lauren Smith and Hollis Smith; three grandchildren; parents, Ferrell and Ruby Bizzell of Frankston; and numerous other relatives.

Pallbearers were Glenn Bandy, Robert Dickerson, Charles Dickerson, Johnny Burks, Hollis Smith, Sam Lackey, Dana Bizzell and Ryan Bizzell.

Honorary pallbearers were Kurt Stanberry, Forrest Aven, Mitchell Bandy, William Bandy and Jacob Stow.

For those desiring, the family requests that memorials be made in the form of blood donations to the Houston Blood Bank.

Robert ‘Bob’ Walter Breault

Funeral services for Robert “Bob” Walter Breault, 65, of Frankston were held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, at HillTop Baptist Church in Frankston with Rev. Ron Ivey officiating.

Burial was in Frankston City Cemetery.

Mr. Breault died Saturday, Oct. 9 in a Jacksonville hospital.

He was born June 23, 1939 in Linwood, Mass.

Mr. Breault was a member of HillTop Baptist Church. He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS John Willis as a First Loader of the 32nd Unit.

Survivors include sons, Dennis Robert Breault of Frankston and Aaron Robert Breault of Copperas Cove; daughters, Laura Jeanne Hubbell of Lindale, Deborah Lynne Struve of Frankston, Julie Anne Tibbetts of Tyler and Jessica Breault of Copperas Cove; a brother, James Breault of Mossup, Conn., sisters, Shirley White of Massachusetts. and Lorraine Porter of Johnson, Rhode Island; nine grandchildren, one great grandchild; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Sterling W. Costlow

Funeral services for Sterling W. Costlow, 77, of Chandler, were held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, at Thompson Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston with Rev. J.A. Griffin officiating.

Burial was in Frankston City Cemetery under direction of Thompson Funeral Home of Frankston.

He died Sunday, Oct. 10, in Tyler.

Mr. Costlow was born June 8, 1927 in the Centerview Community near LaRue to George W. (Walk) and Eva Woodard Costlow. He joined the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. During his three years in the Navy and until the end of World War II, he served in the South Pacific. At the end of the war he re-enlisted in the Air Force and spent the next 19 1/2 years in North Africa and Germany. After retiring from the military at the age of 39 he earned his pilot’s license and flew for the next 20 years for American Home, retiring in 1988. He and his wife, Betty, returned to this area, settling in Sunrise Shores, near Chandler. He was associated with the Church of Christ.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jones Costlow on April 2, 2004; his father in 1976; his mother in 1995; a brother, Travis in 1994; and a sister, Marzelle in 1990.

Survivors include two brothers and three sisters-in-law, Herschel and Margaret Costlow of the Walton community, Mack and Sandra Costlow of Frankston, and Susie Owens of Chandler; one sister, Mattie Jo Wilbanks of Athens; five nephews and two nieces.

Pallbearers were Tim Costlow, Kevin Costlow, Michael Costlow, Huey Wilbanks, Gary Costlow and Tony Campbell.

John L. Melton

CHANDLER — Funeral services for John L. Melton, 84, of Chandler were held at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 8, at Thompson Funeral Home, Frankston, with Rev. Dave Purdy officiating.

Burial was in Poynor Cemetery.

Mr. Melton died Wednesday, Oct 6, in a Frankston nursing home.

He was born Sept. 13, 1920 to the late J.W. and Virgie Melton.

Mr. Melton was a member of Poynor Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Cleo Pagitt.

Survivors include a brother, Jimmy L. Melton of Chandler; and one nephew, John Pagitt of Poynor.

Pallbearers were James Wright, Charles Parrott, Gene Shepard, Clarence Morton, Bobby Holcomb and Herbert Riley.

Norris E. Pierce

LARUE — Memorial services for Norris E. Pierce, 70, of LaRue were scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at the LaRue Baptist Church with Rev. Casey Perry and Bro. Josh McDonald officiating.

Burial was to be held at the LaRue Cemetery under direction of Thompson Funeral Home of Frankston

Mr. Pierce died Saturday, Oct. 9. in a Tyler hospital.

He was born Jan. 25, 1934 in Pruitt City, Okla.

Mr. Pierce was an oil field equipment salesman and served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the LaRue Baptist Church.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia Ann Pierce of LaRue; sons, Norris Tedmon (Ted) Pierce of Coppell and Charles William Pierce of LaRue; a daughter, Torri Jo Pierce of Salt Lake City, Utah; brothers, Denton Pierce of Davis, Okla., Jim Pierce of Austin, and Dick Pierce; a sister, Jan Binnicker of Englewood, Colo.; three grandchildren; his father-in-law, Jack McAnnally of Palestine; a brother-in-law, Charles McAnnally of Combine; numerous nieces and nephews; and lots of friends.

Thomas E. Pratt

Funeral services for Thomas E. Pratt, 77, of Tyler were held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 14, at First Baptist Church of Frankston with Thomas Pratt Jr. officiating.

A private family service was held at the Frankston City Cemetery under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home of Tyler.

He was born July 24, 1927, in Stinnett to Clarence and Mahala Rose Pratt.

Mr. Pratt received his B.A. degree from the University of Corpus Christi, Master’s of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Master of Science in Education and a Ph.D. in Old Testament at Baylor University, with additional Doctoral work in Education at Baylor University.

He pastored five churches in Texas and two in South Carolina. Mr. Pratt was a teacher for 12 years in Texas public schools and taught college courses in Missouri, South Carolina and Texas.

He retired to Pearland and Estes Park, Colo. in 1996. He has been a Tyler resident since 1999.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Dorothy Houston Pratt of Tyler; a son, Tom Pratt Jr. and wife Karen of Aurora, Colo.; a daughter, Laura Pratt of Sugar Land; four grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Honorary pallbearers were the Frankston High School Class of 1944.

Artencie Smith

Funeral services for Artencie Smith, 91, of Henderson County were scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at Gentry Temple Church of God in Christ with Rev. Marvin Davis officiating.

Burial was to be in Pine Springs Cemetery under direction of John R. Harmon Undertaking Co.

Mrs. Smith died Monday, Oct. 11, in a Tyler hospital.

She was born March 25, 1913 in Henderson County and attended Pleasant Ridge High School. Mrs. Smith was a lifetime resident of Henderson County.

She was a member of Gentry Temple Church of God in Christ and the Grand High Court Heroines of Jericho #400. She was a homemaker.

Mrs. Smith was preceded in death by her parents, husband and one daughter.

Survivors include three sons, Will Smith and Homer L. Smith, both of Dallas, and Ira L. Smith of Woodlands; three daughters, Hazel L. Smith Stevenson and Lillie Faye Smith Foster, both of Dallas, and Lois Smith Williams of Allen; 30 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren.

Lowell Patrick Hart

Graveside services for Lowell Patrick Hart, 50, of Winona were held at Frankston City Cemetery on Tuesday, Oct. 19, at 3 p.m. under the direction of Thompson Funeral Home in Frankston with Bro. Eric Peyton officiating.

Mr. Hart died Sunday, Oct. 17, in Tyler.

He was born Oct. 18, 1953 in Jacksonville, son of Lowell and Phyllis Hart. His mother is the former Phyllis Patrick of Frankston.

Mr. Hart was self employed in commercial construction and was a Baptist.

Survivors include a son, Michael Patrick Hart of Big Sandy; parents, Lowell and Phyllis Hart of Chandler; brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Jolisa Hart of Tyler; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials may be made to Winona First Baptist Church building fund, West Lake Baptist Church building fund or Hospice of East Texas.

Amy Seago

Funeral services for Amy Kay Flowers Seago, 46, of the Frankston area are pending with Hilliard Funeral Home of Van.

Mrs. Seago died Sunday, Oct. 17, in Palestine.

She was born Aug. 23, 1958 in Lufkin to Kenneth Ray and Gladys Carolyn Stark Flowers.

Formerly of Lufkin, she had been a resident of the Frankston area seven years. She was a Baptist and worked as a cashier for Albertson’s.

Her grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. E.E. Stark and Doyle W. and Corrine Glass, preceded her in death.

Survivors include her husband, Cecil Seago of Pert; a son, Joshua Doyle Sterling of Pert; daughters, Monica Kincade of Neches and Billie Evonne Seago of Pert; parents, Kenneth and Carolyn Flowers of Pert; brothers, Dennis Ray Flowers of Lufkin and John Edwin Flowers of Palestine; and four grandchildren.

Jim Dickerson

Funeral services for Jim David Dickerson, 70, of Frankston were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at Thompson Funeral Home chapel in Frankston with the Rev. J.A. Griffin officiating.

Burial was in Poynor Cemetery.

Mr. Dickerson died Tuesday, Oct. 19, in Rusk.

He served in the Army and was a truck driver for 55 years, working for Stanley Transportation for six years. Mr. Dickerson was a member of Assembly of God and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5073.

He was joined in death by his wife, Shirley Ann Dickerson; and preceded in death by a son, Jim David Dickerson Jr.; and a daughter, Jennifer Lee Jackson.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, David and Kristina Dickerson of Frankston; daughters and sons-in-law, Robin and Joel Christian of Frankston, Patti and J.C. Redding and Martha and Shawn Reynolds, all of LaRue, Terresa Bull of Gladewater and Shawn Perkins of Athens; sister, Madeline Costlow of Tyler; 15 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Dan Taylor, Thomas Ray Pagitt, Billy Joe Pagitt, Randy Alexander, David Turner and Melvin Richardson.

Honorary pallbearers were sons-in-laws and Jimmie McLane and Karl Haskell.

Shirley Dickerson

Funeral services for Shirley Ann Dickerson, 65, of Frankston were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at Thompson Funeral Home chapel in Frankston with the Rev. J.A. Griffin officiating.

Burial was in Poynor Cemetery.

Mrs. Dickerson died Tuesday, Oct. 19, in Rusk.

She was born Jan 15, 1939, in Dallas.

She was a truck driver for Stanley Transportation for six years. Mrs. Dickerson was a member of Assembly of God and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Ladies Auxiliary Post No. 5073.

She was joined in death by her husband, Jim David Dickerson; and preceded in death by a son, Jim David Dickerson Jr.; a daughter, Jennifer Lee Jackson; brother, Gerald Gann; and a sister, Sue Hickman.

Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, David and Kristina Dickerson of Frankston; daughters and sons-in-law, Robin and Joel Christian of Frankston, Patti and J.C. Redding, Martha and Shawn Reynolds, all of LaRue, Terresa Bull of Gladewater, and Shawn Perkins of Athens; a brother, Richard Gann of California; a sister, Jimmie Lou Martinez of California; 15 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Dan Taylor, Thomas Ray Pagitt, Billy Joe Pagitt, Randy Alexander, David Turner and Melvin Richardson.

Honorary pallbearers were sons-in-laws and Jimmie McLane and Karl Haskell.

Lois Redmon

LAKE PALESTINE — Funeral services for Lois Susan Hutcheson Redmon, 90, of Lake Palestine were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct 23, at Travis Street Chapel, Sullivan Funeral Home, Marshall.

Burial was in Harris Chapel Cemetery, Panola County.

Mrs. Redmon died Wednesday, Oct. 20, in Tyler.

She was born Nov. 19, 1913 in Purdy, Okla, to James Thomas and Sarah Elizabeth Pyles Hutcheson.

Mrs. Redmon attended public schools in Foster, Okla., was a homemaker and attended Fifth Street Baptist Church in Marlow, Okla.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Redmon; two brothers, four sisters and a great-grandson, Chris Toole.

Survivors include her daughter, Peggy Coker, Frankston; sisters, Virginia Jenkins and Tiny Clark, both of Marlow, Okla.; three grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, five great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Homer Roberts

Funeral services for Homer Earl Roberts, 85, of Frankston were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 24, at Thompson Funeral Home, Frankston with John Thompson, minister of the Frankston Church of Christ, officiating.

Burial was in the Poynor Cemetery under direction of Thompson Funeral Home.

Mr. Roberts died Friday, Oct. 22, in Frankston.

He was born Jan. 5, 1919 in Poynor to Henry Earl Roberts and Lida Watkins Roberts.

Mr. Roberts was a member of the Frankston Church of Christ. He served four years in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a farmer and rancher.

Mr. Roberts was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Vernon Roberts and Perry Roberts; sisters, Geneva McCaffiety, Ima Jo Roberts, Ruth Hutto and Jean Lehmberg.

He is survived by a sister, Margie Loden of Jacksonville; two brothers-in-law, Thurman Hutto of Henderson and Roy Lehmberg of Mason, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were John W. Ayres, Ben Bradshaw, Mart Hooper, James Rowell, Jarrell Howeth and Bruce Lehmberg.

John Steven Sheehan

Funeral services for John Steven Sheehan, 48, of Frankston were held at 4 p.m. Monday, Oct. 25, at Thompson Funeral Home chapel in Frankston with Pastors Jerry Stanger and James Farmer officiating.

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

Mr. Sheehan died Thursday, Oct. 21, in Marshall.

He was born Oct. 5, 1956, in St. Louis, Mo.

He graduated from Palestine High School and was a contract driver for Seque and a member of Lake Area Metro Church.

Survivors include his wife, Jennie Marie Sheehan of Frankston; a daughter, Jennifer Sheehan; parents, John and Elizabeth Sheehan of Palestine; father and mother-in-law, Marshall and Johnnie Lou Ellis of Frankston; brother-in-law Joe and wife Linda Ellis of Frankston; sisters, Joan Grimes of Palestine, and Janet and husband Jim Guidry of Dickinson; sister-in-law, Sandra Ellis of Jacksonville; several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Steve Hooper, Billy Bass, Gary Dobbs, Bill Harden, Allen Dover and Roger Main.

Honorary pallbearers were Carl Smith and Bill Whitton.

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