OBITUARIES
Mary LaVell Mitchell
October 2, 1928 – December 23, 2021
BRIDGEPORT – The family of Mary LaVell Mitchell, 93, is deeply saddened to report her passing on Dec. 23, 2021 at her home of 48 years in Bridgeport, TX with daughters at her side.
A funeral service for Mary will be at 2 p.m. on Dec. 31 at the Cates Street Church of Christ in Bridgeport, officiated by brother Scott Strother. The burial will follow in Bridgeport’s Eastside Cemetery. The visitation also will be at 1 p.m. on Dec. 31 at the church.
Mary was born on Oct. 2, 1928, in Jack County to Archie Thomas and Ettie Reed Hicks. She attended school in Rocky Point and later at Bowie High School. On Dec. 21, 1945, just a few months after the end of World War II, she married returning veteran, Herbert Aubrey Mitchell in Montague County. He was known to friends, colleagues and co-workers as H.A. or just Mitch.
In the next few years, her husband took jobs as a bulldozer operator on-road and dam projects and the family lived in 14 different towns in Texas. During this time, her son, Thomas and daughters, Jan and Doris were born before eventually settling in Bridgeport. Nearly two decades later, her son, Joe and daughter, Dee Ann were born. In March of 1972, H.A. was killed in a fiery oil field accident, leaving Mary to raise their two small children. To make ends meet she went to work for the Bridgeport Independent School District and retired after 20 years.
All who knew her attested to the fact she was a shining example of honesty, integrity and virtue. She was an accomplished seamstress, who made countless quilts for children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She once made matching shirts for her husband and children before a vacation trip so all could be easily spotted.
She also was an outstanding cook, especially cakes and pies. She was an active member of Cates Street Church of Christ and was a founding member of the Wise County Quilt Guild.
She remained alert and vivacious, even attending and actively participating in a Thanksgiving Day gathering in Bowie with her extended family. She succumbed after a brief illness.
She is preceded in death by her siblings, Elizabeth Hicks, Rotha May Hicks, Sadie Tage, Janie Ford, Florine Deweber and Archie Thomas Hicks, Jr.
She is survived by her children, Thomas Mitchell and wife, Jo, Las Vegas, Jan Graham and husband, Jim, Bridgeport, Doris Casey and husband, Dave, Copper Canyon, Joe Mitchell, Austin and Dee Ann Mitchell, Conroe; six grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Cates Street Church of Christ, 1406 E. Cates Street, Bridgeport, TX 76426, Wise Choices Pregnancy Resource Center, 604 N Trinity St, Decatur, TX 76234, and CASA of Wise County, 300 E. Pecan St, Decatur, TX 76234.
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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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