OBITUARIES
Marjorie Ellen Brown Boyd (Ellington)
Marjorie Ellen Brown Boyd
(Ellington)
April 29, 1929 – February 9, 2018
BRIDGEPORT – Marjorie Ellen Brown Boyd (Ellington), 88, crossed over into Heaven on Feb. 9, 2018 in Decatur, TX.
The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 12 at The White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
A celebration of her life was at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 13 in Forestburg at the United Methodist Church with Pastor Sam Campbell officiating. Burial followed at Perryman Cemetery.
Marjorie known as “Marge” or “Margie,” was born April 29, 1929 in Wichita Falls to Houston and Beatrice Brown, of Bowie, and lived most of her life in Forestburg. She was the oldest child of eight.
Marge did not attend high school and worked as a waitress and as a supervisor in sewing factories until she decided to go to college in her late 30s to become an elementary school teacher. This was a dream for her. She taught 15 years in Bellevue, Alvord and Bowie, and one year in Florida.
She played the fiddle and guitar, and sang hymns and country music. She loved performing and being in the limelight. A friendly, outgoing person, she never met a stranger and loved children. She loved painting, dancing and a good party.
Traveling was one of her favorite hobbies and she took cruises and visited places like Alaska, and beach resorts in Mexico and Europe.
A lover and follower of Jesus Christ, she attended church her entire life and went on mission trips to places like Russia. She drove to far away states like California, Michigan or Florida. She was truly an adventurous spirit.
Margie, as her siblings and cousins called her, loved her family deeply. She rarely missed a family reunion. She attended weddings and funerals to support the grieving, and valued her friends—a friend who was there when they needed her.
She was the former wife of Finis Long, the widow of J. R. “Buddy” Boyd and later was married to Percy Ellington for many years.
She was the mother of Steve Long, Bowie, Janice Long Hunt, Saginaw, Lisa Boyd Brashear, Bowie and step-mother to Elizabeth Ellington, Virginia. She was blessed with 10 grandchildren as well as a great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and brothers, James, George, Jesse and Robert Brown.
She is survived by her husband, Percy Ellington; her children; and siblings, Thelma Brown Demoss, Ringgold, Marty Brown Parker, Wichita Falls and Gene Brown, Bowie.
Arrangements entrusted to The White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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April 22, 1948 – April 30, 2024
MANSFIELD, AR – James B. Lyons Jr. (Jim), 76, passed away on April 30, 2024 in Fort Smith, AR.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. on May 7 at Martin Funeral and Cremation. A private graveside service with military honors will be at the Fort Smith National Cemetery in Fort Smith, AR. Honorary pallbearers will include David Morgan, Mike Robles, Westin Corbin, Michael Robles, Cody Robles, Chris Little and Michael Winters.
Jim was born on April 22, 1948 in Bowie to James “Brock” Lyons and Patsy Ruth West Lyons. Jim was a proud Vietnam Veteran and served in the United States Air Force.
Jim will be greatly missed by all of his family. We will always remember his constant teasing, his great love for the Texas Longhorns (even though we are all Razorback fans) and his passion for spinning the wheel at the casino.
He was preceded in death by his father, James B. Lyons Sr.
Jim is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Beverly Boatright Lyons; his five children, Stephanie (David) Morgan, April (Mike) Robles, Brock Lyons, Mansfield, AR, Kiemeche (Westin) Corbin, Charleston, AR and Dakotha Lyons, Fort Smith, AR; seven grandchildren, Kayla (Michael) Winters, Cheyene (Chris) Little, Michael Robles, Cody Robles, Addison Robles, Mansfield, AR, Ellie Lyons, Fort Smith, AR and Connor Corbin, Charleston, AR and five great-grandchildren, Kinlee and Easton Winters, Leena and Ledger Little and soon to arrive, Letty Little, all of Mansfield, AR. Jim also is survived by his mother, Patsy Lyons and his sister, Karen Self of Bowie.
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August 9, 1954 – May 1, 2024
BOWIE – Michael Frank “Mike” Hankins, 69, died on May 1, 2024.
A graveside service will take place at 2 p.m. on May 6 at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie.
He was born on Aug. 9, 1954. He graduated from Bowie High School, then attended Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls where he graduated with a degree in elementary education. He member of the First Baptist Church of Bowie where he worked for years at opening and closing the church. He also worked for Walmart in Bowie for many years.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Fairy Hankins and his brother, Sonny Hankins.
He is survived by his brother, Gene Hankins, Victoria, TX; one niece; two nephews and many cousins.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
March 25, 1942 – April 26, 2024
ODESSA – Billy James “Jimmy” Avery, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend entered the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 26, 2024. He was 82 years old.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on May 2 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. on May 3 at the First Free Will Baptist Church in Bowie, with Pastor and family friend Doyle Wade officiating. Burial will follow at Salona Cemetery in Bowie. Pallbearers will be John Coffey, Tim Green, Mark Jackson, Chad McCracken, Larry Overstreet and Kurt Jackson. Honorary pallbearers include Joe McCracken, Louie Jackson, Gary Odle, Terrell Hill and Kevin Bryan.
Jimmy was born in Bowie to LR and Elsie (Johnson) Avery on March 25, 1942. He graduated from Bowie High School, where he played on the football team making all district and all area his senior year. He then went to play football at Cameron University.
On Aug. 3, 1963 Jimmy married his high school sweetheart, Judy Elizabeth Overstreet Avery. This began a love story that would last 61 years. Together they began a remarkable life and raised two beautiful girls, Kimberly Avery and Kelly Haring. He had an amazing career at Shell Oil where he retired after 30 years.
He was an avid hunter and fisher, loved his western movies and never missed a Texas Longhorn football game. His true passion in life though was his family and most knew him as their beloved “Poppa.” His family was his pride and joy and he would have done anything for them. Poppa had the natural ability to put a smile on anyone’s face and always leave you with a laugh. He knew how to have fun and be the life of the party. Jimmy Avery was a hard-working man whose life was dedicated to his loving family.
He is preceded in death by his parents, LR and Elsie (Johnson) Avery and sister, Colleen Hunt.
Jimmy is survived by his loving wife, Judy; his children, Kimberly Avery and Kelly Haring, all of Odessa; nephew, Lanny Hunt, Wichita Falls and cousins, Mike Avery, Longview, TX and Terry Tucker, Fort Worth. He was a proud Poppa to Ashley Bryan and husband Kevin, Fort Worth and one great-grandchild, Conner James Bryan, named after his beloved Poppa.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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