OBITUARIES
Earl Gayno Shelton
February 14, 1937 – March 19, 2023
BOWIE – Earl Gayno Shelton, 86, passed away on March 19, 2023.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. on March 25 in the old Bowie High School gym, now known as the Bowie Intermediate School. The address is 800 N. Mill, Bowie, TX. Following the service, friends and family may gather in the former Bowie High School band hall to visit, share memories and enjoy finger foods. A private family burial service will take place later.
Gayno was born on Feb. 14, 1937 in Comanche, OK to the late J.T. and Estelle Shelton. He graduated from Duncan, OK in 1955 where he was active in football, basketball and baseball, and was class president his senior year. He completed two years at Murray State College and finished his education at Oklahoma State University and Austin College in Sherman where he earned his bachelor of science degree. A master’s degree was later obtained at North Texas State University.
Gayno married the love of his life, Mary Katherine Shelton on Dec. 28, 1957 and together they had two daughters and one son. In 1965, Gayno, his wife and their three small children moved to Bowie where he spent the rest of his life and finished out his career as a teacher and basketball coach at Bowie Independent School District. He coached for a total of 30 years, with 25 of those years in Bowie. He was a member of the Bowie First Methodist Church where he earnestly served on various committees during his younger years. Gayno continued to follow the Bowie Jackrabbits after his retirement.
Throughout the span of Gayno’s more than 900 game coaching career, he amassed a 621-win record with 249 losses. His record included 15 district championships, 18 playoff appearances, 11 regional tournament showings, three regional championships, three state tournament appearances and one state championship.
He was a charter member of the Bowie High School Hall of Honor, a member of the Duncan High School Hall of Fame, the Murray State College Athletic Hall of Fame, the Austin College Athletic Hall of Honor, and the Texas High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame. He also was the recipient of the Joe Spencer Award for meritorious service and lifetime achievement in coaching from Austin College.
Gayno’s family, students, athletes, co-workers and church family were considered to be his most important “job.” He valued the importance of relationships with other people and “making a difference” in all whom he met. If you knew him well, you knew his humor, his kindness, his toughness, his generosity, his stubbornness, but most of all, you knew that he loved you.
Survivors include two daughters, Dawne Bowen with husband Spencer, Monticello, FL and Jarae Scruggs with husband David, Bowie; one son, Lance Shelton with wife Elizabeth, Ardmore, OK; one sister, Ilene Zimmerman with husband Phil, Duncan, OK; six grandsons, Landon with Patricia Espinoza, Bowie, Lane with wife Jolie, Bowie, Logan Scruggs, Bowie, Layton and Landry Shelton, Decatur and Cole Bowen, Jacksonville, FL; two granddaughters, Kinsey Shelton Odirico with husband Dante, Celina, TX and Addie Bowen, Tallahassee FL; one great-granddaughter, Scarlett Scruggs, Bowie and two in the oven; five nieces and one nephew.
In lieu of flowers or plants, the family requests that you make a donation to the Bowie First Methodist Church, Bowie Mission, Bowie Athletic Booster Club or Tunnel to Towers.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home in 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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