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.)

Judy L. McRight

A funeral service for Judy L. McRight, 76, of Jacksonville, was scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, April 5, 2018, at Friendship Baptist Church, in Corine with the Rev. Joe Ballard, the Rev. Larry Smith and the Rev. Grant McRight officiating.

She will be laid to rest at Corine Cemetery.

Services are under the direction of Autry Funeral Home.

Mrs. McRight passed away Saturday, March 31, 2018, in Jacksonville.

She was born August 21, 1941, in Jacksonville.

She was a member of Friendship Baptist Church.

Judy retired from the Jacksonville High School where she was the cafeteria manager for 27 years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Mitchell E. McRight; son, Carlton “Skipper” McRight; parents, Carl and Marzee White; brothers, Bob, Neal and Donnie White; and her sister, Frances Davis.

Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Steve McRight and wife Tamera, Sean McRight; brothers, Mike White and wife Syble, Gaylon White and wife Jenny, Joe White and wife Myra; sisters, Bonnie Langston and husband Curtis, Randi White, Jill Magness and husband Randy. She is also survived by eight grandchildren, Austin McRight, Grant McRight, Savannah McRight, Caitlin O’Neill and husband, Nick, Lillian McRight, Tiffaney Fenemore, Tarah Frutos and husband Tony, and Tessa McRight; eight great-grandchildren; Kaela Dupont, Konnor Dupont, Alexia King, Kadon Talbert, Aleah Talbert, Kayleona Talbert, Sean Frutos, and Cambree McRight; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dale Walker

A funeral service for Dale Walker, 74, of Jacksonville, was held Sunday, April 8, 2018, at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Jacksonville.

Burial with military honors will be at Still Waters Memorial Gardens. Mr. Walker passed away Wednesday, April 4, 2018, in Tyler.

Dale was born December 30, 1943, in Frankston to Edgar and Hazel (Richardson) Walker.

He served in 5 tours in Vietnam and was the recipient of 2 Purple Hearts, a Bronze Star and a Silver Star.

Dale was a lifetime member of Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post # 3984 of Jacksonville and The Military Order of the Purple Heart, Tyler District.

He worked at Stage Stores Distribution Center in Jacksonville and retired as supervisor from Grief Manufacturing in LaPorte, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his sisters, Juanice Bostick and Elizabeth “Blue Eyes” Tate.

Dale is survived by his brothers, who are all Vietnam veterans, James Walker and wife Wanda, Larry Walker, Ken Walker and wife Betty and Ron Walker, all of Jacksonville; sisters, Nadia Massey and Jackie Dawson, both of Jacksonville, Valda Waters of Longview and Gale Smith of Winnsboro.

Pallbearers were Steven Walker, Kevin Walker, Kade Carpenter, Kasen Carpenter, Jaeger Gowin, Kevin Carpenter, Toby Gowin and Drew Durrett.

Special thanks to the nurses and staff at Watkins Logan Veterans Home of Tyler.

Lt. Col. Carl R. Drost

Lt. Col. Carl R. Drost was born April 27, 1938 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

He died April 22, 2018.

He was born to Carl E. Drost and Violet J. Drost (Wirth). He was preceded in death by his parents and his first wife, Marietta K. Drost (Karczewski).

He is survived by his beloved wife of 27 years, Pamela Drost (Burrier), his sister, Judy Tearney, his daughter and her husband, Theresa and Brad Grimsley, his son Carl D. Drost, his stepdaughter and her husband, Amy and Jason Chesson, and his stepson, Michael Coleman, and 8 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild.

His interest in aviation began early with his joining an air explorer scout troop, civil air patrol and the Wisconsin Air National Guard at the age of 171/2.

He began taking flying lessons and soloed at age 18.

At 20, he began active duty as an aviation cadet at Lackland AFB and Harlingen, Texas for navigator training. He graduated in Sept. 1959 and attended electronics warfare officer’s school at Keesler AFB.

He was subsequently assigned to the 346th Bomb Squadron of the 99 Bomb Wing at Westover AFB.

He proceeded through the ranks and was assigned to a Stanboard crew as a spot captain at age 231/2. He was aboard an air born and fully armed B-52 during the “Cuban Crisis” when he Soviet ships turned around.

In 1964 he was chosen for pilot training (class 65G) at Williams AFB. Upon graduating as a pilot, he chose the RF-101 which changed to the RF-4C at Shaw AFB, S.C.

Upon completing training, he proceeded to the 32nd squadron at Toul Rosier AFB France. In 1966 the entire squadron was assigned to Ton San Nhut AFB, Saigon, Vietnam which upon arrival became the 12th Recce Squadron.

During his tour he flew 169 combat missions, receiving the Distinguished Flying Cross, eleven Air Medals, Viet Nam Gallantry Cross with Palm and other foreign decorations.

From there, he was assigned to the 22nd Recce Squadron at Mountain Home AFB. He was then transferred to the 10th RTU as an instructor while still at Mountain Home. In 1970 he was assigned to Three Corp at Ft. Hood as Air Force Recce Liaison, while there, he flew with the 4th Recce Squadron at Bergstom, AFB every Wednesday. Other days he flew the O-2 FAC Aircraft.

There he was awarded, by the Army, the Meritorious Service Medal for “Superior Performance”. Then back to Mountain Home AFB as an aircraft commander.

After a short tour flying the F-111F with the 389th Tactical Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home AFB he was assigned to Bergstrom AFB, Texas as Chief of Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Division, then to Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, as Chief MWR retiring at Bergstrom AFB, Texas in 1978.

After retiring from the military, he pursued a career in law enforcement starting with the Travis County Sheriff’s Department and went through all the ranks up to being the Police Chief of Westlake Hills.

He was a protector and provider of and for people both public citizens and family.

Before, during and after his retirement he loved hunting, fishing and working on antique cars.

Interment with Full military and Masonic Graveside services will be at Assumption Cemetery next to his first wife.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, April 26, 2018 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Autry Funeral Home Chapel in Frankston. The service will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the chapel.

Jeanne Marie Smith

A memorial service for Jeanne Marie Smith, 55, will be held at the Frankston United Methodist Church at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 12.

Smith was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, Jan. 19, 1963 to Doyle and Lela Miller.

She went to be with her heavenly Father on Sunday, April 21, 2018, at 2:10 a.m.

She was very active in the Frankston Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5073 Auxiliary for 10 years.

She was preceded in death by her father, Doyle, on Sept. 17, 2017.

She is survived by her mother, Lela Miller of Frankston; two children Katelyn Marie Russell of San Marcus and Billy Jack Smith and wife Allison of Frankston; grand daughter Kasey Renee Smith who is 18 months; fiancé Harry Neal Rogers; sister Donna Kay Gandy of Tallahassee, Fla.; three stepsisters, Melinda Tutt, Pamela Barker and Darla Barrett all of East Texas; two aunts; one uncle Addice and David Hinchman of Blanco, Texas and Georgia Hinchman of Medina, Texas and lots of cousins who were very dear to her heart.

She will be missed by many friends and family.

Winnifred (Hollis) Owen

A graveside service for Winnifred L. (Hollis) Owen, 88, of Athens, was held Monday, April 23, 2018, at Frankston City Cemetery.

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

Winnifred passed away Thursday, April 19, 2018, in Athens.

She was born Feb. 9, 1930, to Henry Milam Hollis and Sallie Perry Hollis in Highlands, Texas. She completed her high school education in 1947, graduating from Frankston High School.

Winnifred went on to complete her nursing degree at the Lillie Jolly School of Nursing in Houston, in 1950.

She married Kenneth Owen, also from Frankston, on May 29, 1953.

They lived in Venezuela, Roswell, Houston, Austin and Pasadena. She worked as a nurse in the Student Health Services at UT-Austin while Kenneth completed his degree.

She completed her nursing career in various locations along the ship channel working as an occupational nurse. Winnifred has continued to be an active member of South Main Baptist Church in Pasadena, Texas, volunteering with her fellow Mavericks Sunday school members to serve her community. She also volunteered her nursing skills for healthcare screenings held throughout the year.

She was active in her local East Harris County Senior Center and other local senior organizations.

Winnie enjoyed reading, handwork, nursing, baseball, football, anything related to UT and spending time with her growing family.

Her favorite title being Nonnie to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. They have been the joy of her life.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her husband, Kenneth.

She is survived by her sister, Dorothy Hoffman of Bullard; brother-in-law, Roger Owen of Palestine; sister-in-law, Lena Owen of Ponce, Puerto Rico; sons, David Owen of Athens, James Owen and wife Laura of Athens, Forrest Owen of Carmel, Indiana, Stephen Owen and wife Catherine of Keller. She is also survived by 13 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; three nieces, four nephews and their families and many friends.

Mildred Blakeney

A service for Mildred Blakeney, 84, of Jacksonville, is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, April 28, at Bullard Southern Baptist Church in Bullard. The Rev. Donnie Barron will officiate.

Mildred passed away Wednesday, April 18, 2018, in Jacksonville.

She was born April 6, 1934, in Big Spring, Texas to Samuel and Ruth McCormick.

Grandma was the “coolest” as the grandkids would say.

She was the most fun-loving, caring, and most dependable woman.

She loved to dance and spend time with her family, including her dog “Little Bit.”

She enjoyed cooking for everyone, especially her family.

She was a feisty grandma who always wore a smile on her face. She ran the Blakeney and Son’s Plumbing company for more than 40 years.

Not only was she an amazing mother and grandma, she’s worn too many titles to list.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Hazel McCormick; husband, W. M. “Dick” Blakeney; son, Brian Kevin Blakeney, and daughter- in-law Monnie Blakeney.

Left to cherish her memory are her sons, Mike Blakeney and wife Joyce, David Blakeney and wife Janet, Kelly Blakeney and wife Jackie, Shannon Blakeney and wife Michele; brother, Richard McCormick and wife Linda; sisters, Maureen McCutchin and Marilyn Pridinville.

She is also survived by her grandchildren, Stacy and Derek Ray, Lee and Jessica Blakeney, Amber Blakeney and Mark, Casey and Denise Blakeney, Jason Henderson, Justina and Travis Willis, Jesse Blakeney, Samantha and Nathan Tucker, Beth and Ryan Mays, David and Natalie Byrd, great-grandchildren, Parker, Kade, Paxtyn, Harper, Allyson, Kinsey, Kellen, Jacob, Braxton, Breelynn, Taytum, Kayden, Rhyker, Caleb, Camden, and Jaxon; faithful puppy, Lil’bit; several nieces, nephews and very close friends who were like family.

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