OBITUARIES
Wanda Jan Edwards
Wanda Jan Edwards
August 18, 1932 – October 1, 2018
TEMPLE – Wanda Jan Edwards, 86, passed away peacefully on Oct. 1, 2018 in Temple, TX.
Wanda’s remains will be interred at the Edwards Ireland Cemetery in Ireland, TX, where she joins her family and a host of ancestors on ranch land once owned by her great grandfather.
A private graveside service will be scheduled at a future date.
Wanda was born on Aug. 18, 1932, in Levita to Johnnie O’Dell (J.O.) and Marjorie Marial (Lady) Wilson Edwards.
She attended elementary school in Levita and secondary schools in Beaumont and Fort Worth graduating from Polytechnic High School. She received a bachelor of science and master of education
degrees from Texas Wesleyan College (University).
Wanda was an outstanding athlete in the Fort Worth City recreation leagues in both basketball and softball. She earned all-state and all-regional softball player in both Texas Amateur Athletic Federation and Amateur Athletic Union tournaments and participation.
She was named most outstanding player in both divisions. Her softball team participated in three world championship tournaments, finishing in the top bracket each year. Wanda was a participant in the Texas Amateur Golf Association tournaments under the tutelage of Smiley Rowland at Glen Garden Country Club in Fort Worth.
Upon completion of her bachelor’s degree in 1955, she moved to Bowie where she coached the Bowie High School girl’s basketball team to the Class AA Championship at the state tournament in Austin. Her tennis and volleyball teams were also crowned AA champions while she was at Bowie. On Sept. 21, 2018, Wanda was inducted into Bowie High School’s Hall of Honor in recognition of her coaching achievements.
Wanda returned to the Fort Worth area as a teacher, coach and administrator in the Fort Worth Independent School District for 31 years, retiring in 1989 as an administrator at Meadowbrook Middle School. During her time at Meadowbrook, she co-directed the annual talent show, “Stars Over Meadowbrook.” The auditorium is named in her honor.
She served as co-director for the junior athletic programs for the Fort Worth Parks and Recreation Department for 19 years. During the same time, she served as co-director of the Southwest Conference Track meets and the state and national AAU and TAAF meets in Texas.
She enjoyed a retirement full of various activities from breeding, raising, and racing quarter and thoroughbred horses with her friends at the HSE Horse Ranch in Lake Worth, participating in various sports such as trout fishing, hunting and horse racing and visiting with friends and relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Edwards, and brother, Billy Jack Edwards.
She is survived by her sister-in-law, Carol Ann Amberson Edwards; niece, Jacqueline Carol Edwards, Temple; nephew, Stacey Scott Edwards and wife, Diane Marie Greene Edwards and grand-niece, Bethany Ann Edwards all of Morgan’s Point Resort; grand-nephew John Robert Edwards, San Antonio; and numerous relatives, and many life-long and cherished friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the: American Liver Foundation, 5605 FM 423, Suite 500-353. Frisco, Texas 75034, First Methodist Church, PO Box 773, Temple, Texas 76503, or the charity of your choice.
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Dossman Funeral Home
Belton, TX | 254-933-2525
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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