OBITUARIES
Robert Ray “Bobby” Taylor
Robert Ray “Bobby” Taylor
July 8, 1934 – February 27, 2020
NOCONA-Robert Ray “Bobby” Taylor, 85, Nocona, TX passed away, surrounded by his family, on Feb. 27, 2020 in Decatur, TX.
A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on March 4, at Central Baptist Church in Bowie with Pastor Gregg Shaw officiating. Burial will follow at Bellevue Cemetery in Bellevue.
The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 3, at Central Baptist Church in Bowie.
Bobby was born July 8, 1934 in Bellevue, to Ewell and Joy (Miller) Taylor. He attended Arlington State College after graduating from high school. Bobby took off one summer, after his second year and was drafted into the United States Army. He was in the Reserve Officer Training Corps. and intended to go back to school.
After his basic training, Bobby was tested and selected for the missile program at White Sands. He was in the 11th class to go through. He tested missiles on the Nike Ajax program and he lived near the atomic test site. During this time Bobby and his buddies would swim in what was later called “The Atomic Tank.” He had the opportunity to meet Werner Von Braun and many generals. Bobby lived to be 85, and all his buddies are gone, mostly due to cancer.
After White Sands he was sent to Surface to Air Missiles, also known as a S.A.M. site in Pennsylvania. Bobby watched a radar screen covering a large portion of the East Coast, patrolling for enemy air craft. If a plane showed up on radar and failed or refused to identify, there were rules to follow, firing on that plane. Many times American planes waited almost too long; also if the word had come from the military commanders, he and the other S.A.M. soldiers were responsible to push the final button to fire. Thankfully, it never happened.
The military wanted him to stay and offered a promotion, but Bobby wanted to come back to Texas. His military service was the highlight of his life; and he visited White Sands on occasion.
On July 14, 1956, Bobby married Mary Sue Horton at the First Baptist Church, Bellevue. Bobby owned and operated Bowie Butane Gas Company for many years, with his partner Warren Reynolds.
He is preceded in death by his parents and grandson Brenn Taylor.
Bobby is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Sue Taylor, Nocona; children Saprina Storey and husband Mike, Nocona, Mike Taylor and wife Sandy, Bowie, and Jenny Kutz and husband Ron, Nocona; sisters Betty Evans, Sunset and Carolyn Osborne and husband Larry, Lewisville, TX; grandchildren Jeremy Walker and wife Bihba; Amber Jordan and husband Hannan; Brady Taylor and wife Alexis Bigler, Emily Weber and husband Kolby; Jake Hopkins and wife Jessica Pendelton, Lauren Houston, Jeremi Houston, Lindsay Hunt, and Jordan Hunt; great- grandchildren Jessica Walker, Ryder Walker, Sadie Walker, Prince Walker, Jaxon Hamilton, Faith Hamilton, Sage Gossett, Tyson Jordan, Presley Weber, Landon Weber, Brooks Weber, Emma Welchel, Lilah Hunt, Jordan Hunt Jr., Samuel Hunt, Owen Houston and Bennett Houston; great-great granddaughter Ryot Hamilton; and numerous nieces and nephews.
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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