OBITUARIES
Maribeth Lyn Ellis Olberding
Maribeth Lyn Ellis Olberding
July 21, 1969 – May 28, 2014
LAS CRUCES, NM – Maribeth Lyn Ellis, 44, passed away May 28, 2014 in Las Cruces, NM after a nine month battle with breast cancer.
A memorial service was at 3 p.m. May 31 at First Christian Church in Las Cruces, NM. A second memorial service was at 2 p.m. June 3 at the First Baptist Church in Richardson, TX. She will be buried in West Plains, MO.
Maribeth was born to Jern Wayne and Virginia Foster Ellis on July 21, 1969 in Dallas.
She grew up in Dallas and graduated from Richardson High School in 1987. She attended Baylor University, where she was a member of Sigma Kappa sorority and took a degree in math education in 1991. She also achieved a master’s degree in mathematics from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Maribeth married Bruce Olberding in 1993. She and Bruce lived in Middletown, CT and Monroe, LA before moving to Las Cruces over a decade ago. In Las Cruces, Maribeth worked as a college assistant professor in the department of mathematical sciences at New Mexico State University, where she was much beloved by her students and collegues. She was also and fundamentally a joyful parent to her two daughters, Della Lyn and Lila Kay.
She is survived by her husband, Bruce Michael Olberding; two daughters, Della Lyn and Lila Kay; parents, Jern Wayne and Virginia Foster Ellis, Dallas; three sisters, Paula Lea Ellis Taylor, Lewisville, Jennifer Elaine Ellis Byrd, McKinney and Stephanie Denise Ellis, Dallas; brother, Neil Scott Ellis, Dallas; eight nephews, Ben, Nick and Forrest Taylor, Andrew, Nathan, Peter and Luke Bryd, and Foster and Cooper Ellis; brother-in-law, David Lee Byrd and sister-in-law, Caroline Fogel Ellis; father and mother-in-law, Mike and Kay Prantl Olberding, West Plains, MO; many aunts and uncles including Frances Foster McCarty, Bowie, Jane Foster Brasch Jackson, Marshall, TX and Lois Foster Campbell, Hurst; and many cousins and dear friends. She will be dearly missed.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Cancer Aid Resources and Education (C.A.R.E.), 141 Roadrunner Parkway, Suite 226, Las Cruces, NM 88011, 575-680-5922.
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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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