OBITUARIES
Jack J. LeClair
September 14, 1946 – January 28, 2023
SAINT JO – Jack J. LeClair, 76, died on Jan. 28, 2023.
A rosary led by Tom and Denise Koranek was at 6 p.m. on Feb. 2 at Scott Funeral Home. The eulogy was delivered by Jack Lyons. A mass of Christian burial by Fr. Joe Keating was at 10 a.m. on Feb. 3 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Muenster. Burial followed at Sacred Heart Cemetery.
He was born Sept. 14, 1946 in Ponca City, OK to Jack J. (Chief) LeClair and Grace Jeanette LeClair. He married Dianne Sicking Clegg in 2000. They moved to North Texas and set up a cow/ calf operation with a dedication to managing the native wildlife.
He graduated from Pharr San Juan Alamo High School in 1964. He went on to attend the University of Texas on a baseball scholarship, then to Pan- American College for undergraduate work, where he was a teacher at Ed Couch Elsa Schools. He graduated from Texas A&M Kingsville in 1975 with a master of science in range science and management. He began his career in field development and tech service with Chevron/ Ortho Chemical in Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. He also did some doctoral work at Texas A&I.
From 1982-1999, he worked in development and was an integral part of the DuPont Development team that was responsible for introducing new active ingredient chemistry for cotton, cereal, corn, rice, soybeans and range and pasture. From 2000-2003, he was in field development for United Ag Products. Going back to DuPont in 2004, he became part of the DuPont Crop Protection team as a range and pasture specialist. Once again, he developed active ingredient chemistry for range and pasture brush and weed control. He retired from DuPont after 27 years of service. In 2014 he began a three year stint with Bayer Environmental Services in range and pasture sales. He was a longtime member of The Society for Range Management.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Pamela Sue.
He is survived by his wife; brother, Joe LeClair, Oklahoma City; children, Jeff LeClair, Portland, Stephen LeClair, Gonzales and Ashli LeClair, Austin and one grandson.
Memorials may be made to Saint Jo Volunteer Fire Department or to a charity of choice.
Arrangements entrusted to Scott Funeral Home in Saint Jo.
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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