OBITUARIES
Gretchen Kay Lutz
Gretchen Kay Lutz
January 6, 1948 – June 10, 2019
HOUSTON – Gretchen Kay Lutz, 71, passed from this life on June 10, 2019 at her home in Houston, TX.
A graveside service will be at the Benson family plot in Elmwood Cemetery at a later date.
She was born on Jan. 6, 1948 to Dana Sue Benson Lutz and James R. Lutz in Fort Worth. She grew up with her mother and maternal grandparents in Bowie. She was a member of First Christian Church in Bowie and was a member of First Christian-Houston at the time of her death. Gretchen graduated from Bowie High School in 1966.
She attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth where she was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority and the TCU Band, and graduated with a bachelor of arts degree. She earned a master of arts degree from the University of Houston, an M.A. from Rice University, attended the School of Criticism and Theory at Dartmouth College, and received a Ph.D. from Rice University in English literature.
She was credentialed as a reading specialist through the University of Houston-Clear Lake. She held Texas teacher certification in English, English/language arts/reading, English as a second language, history, generic special education and as a reading specialist. She was an international student advisor at Schreiner University, an advance placement coordinator and testing coordinator/limited English proficiency coordinator at the American Academy of Excellence Charter High School.
Her teaching experiences included San Jacinto College Central Campus, Pasadena, South and North Campuses, Houston; University of Houston-Clear Lake; Houston Community College SE, Eastside Campus, Houston; University of Houston Downtown; Brookhaven College in Farmers Branch; Amarillo College in Amarillo and Galveston College. She also taught at Cesar E. Chavez High School, Houston; The Brown Schools Juvenile Justice Alternative Education Program, Houston; Galveston Ball High School; H.W. Longfellow Academy, Dallas; and School of the Talented and Gifted at Yvonne Ewell Townview Center, Dallas. She authored and published numerous scholarly articles and reviews, and presented many of her papers throughout the United States. She was also an accomplished musician.
Gretchen was preceded in death by her parents; her maternal grandparents, Dana B. and Ova Benson, Bowie; and paternal grandparents, Jacob E. and Anna Lutz, Henrietta.
She is survived by three generations of cousins, Fred Slayden, The Woodlands, Joe Slayden, and Jack and Aaron, all of Lewisville, Jason Slayden, Alyssa, Zachary and Taylor, all of The Woodlands, Jane Slayden Redman, McAlester, OK, David Redman, McAlester, OK, Ross and Ben, and Paul Redman, Kennett Square, PA.
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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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