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.)

Emmie Marilyn (Baker) Dixon

Funeral services for Emmie Marilyn (Baker) 66, of Royse City, were held at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 2, at 11 a.m.

She died Monday, August 29, in Royse City.

(A more complete obituary appears in the Sept.8 edition of the newspaper at the library).

Lesley Howard Townley

Graveside services for Lesley Howard Townley, 72, of Jacksonville were held Tuesday, Aug. 30, at the Poynor Cemetery with Bro. J.A. Griffin officiating.

Burial was in Poynor Cemetery under direction of Boren-Conner Funeral Home, Jacksonville.

Mr. Townley died Friday, Aug. 26, at his residence.

He was born July 21, 1933 in Watts Community, Van Zandt County.

Mr. Townley lived in Jacksonville since 1982, previously living in Frankston.

He was of the Baptist faith. Mr. Townley was a water well digger and a mechanic.

Mr. Townley retired from East Texas Drilling in Poynor and was a member of the Frankston Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Pat Townley; a brother, Tom B. Townley; a sister, Ruth Ellon McCulloch; and a good friend, Gordon “Mack” McNary.

Survivors include a daughter, Dana Townley Bennett of Frankston; two step-daughters, Tracy Warren of Jacksonville and Tami Southwell of California; one brother, Willie Townley of Poynor; two sisters, Shirley Pilgrim of Brownsboro and Lou Stone of Edom; four grandchildren, five step-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Keith Bristow, Ben Haynes, Oneal Smith, W.L. Bristow, Kayce Southwell and Wayne Bristow.

Honorary pallbearers were Lloyd Hanks, Jamie Warren, Jared Warren and Lloyd Grayson.

Maurice G. Watson

LAKE PALESTINE— Funeral services for Maurice G. Watson, 86, of Lake Palestine were held Sunday, Aug. 28, at 4:30 p.m. at Autry Funeral Home Chapel of Jacksonville with Cliff Todd officiating.

Burial was in West Shady Grove Cemetery.

He died Friday, Aug. 26, in Carthage.

Mr. Watson was born March 3, 1919 in Cherokee County.

He was a supervisor for Hughes Tool Co., Houston, and was a cattleman.

Mr. Watson was a member of the Little River Baptist Church in Milam. He was an instrument instructor in the U.S. Army Air Corps serving during World War II.

Mr. Watson was a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Park Place Masonic Lodge of Houston and Scottish Rite Temple.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister.

Survivors include his wife, Ruby Edmiston Watson of Lake Palestine; two sisters, Juanita Richards and Helen Hickman, both of Houston, and several nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers were Cliff Todd, Ralph Todd, James Todd, Johnny Wheeler, Charles Ray and Clint Ray.

Honorary pallbearers were Kenneth Willy, Mike Willy, Greg Willy and Dean Ezell.

Preston R. Manley

Funeral services for Preston Raymond Manley, 88, were held Sunday, Sept. 4 at Poynor First Baptist Church with Rick Knight and Steve Phillips officiating, Thompson Funeral Home of Jacksonville was in charge of arrangements.

Burial was in Myrtle Springs Cemetery.

Mr. Manley died Thursday, Sept. 1.

He was born Oct. 8, 1916.

Mr. Manley served as pastor of several churches before becoming Area Director of Southern Baptist Churches in Fannin County.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lois, and two daughters, Pat and her husband Rick Knight, Beth and her husband Steve Phillips, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Marcille Booth and Mary Drapela.

Special thanks were expressed to neighbor David George, the members of First Baptist Church, Frankston, and Poynor First Baptist Church, his nurses and doctors and Hospice of East Texas.

Memorials may be made to the CF Foundation, 18770 Vista Oak, Flint, Texas 75762.

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