OBITUARIES
Nathan Ray Austin
February 9, 2022
WICHITA FALLS – Nathan Ray Austin, 49, Wichita Falls, formerly of Wood River, IL, entered into eternal rest with his Lord and Savior Feb. 9 in Wichita Falls.
A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. on March 26 at Victory Life Church, Ardmore, OK.
Honorary pallbearers will be Craig Tucker, Dylan Howell, Bob Johnson, Ralph Leija and Delbert MacDonald.
Nathan was born in the city of Alton in Madison County, IL. He attended public schools in East Alton-Wood River, IL and Dickinson, IL. He was a philosophy major at the University of North Texas in Denton. Nathan was a skilled artist specializing in conceptual art. His most easily recognized work is available on the internet and is entitled “The Price Master.”
His hobbies were music, being an accomplished guitar player which also made him an instrument collector, woodworking including guitar luthier, bicycling and camping/hiking, often with his best friend Bob Johnson.
He was self-employed as an interior designer/remodel contractor where he utilized his exceptional artistic abilities to manifest custom building projects.
In his life, he was able to travel and make his home in many different places, including, Galveston, Portland, OR and Bahia, Brazil. He created many friendships and related many stories from his adventures in the Americas and Europe.
Nathan loved his Lord Jesus, his family, friends and his constant pomeranian companion, Foxy. He was a friend of Bill.
Nathan is preceded in death by his grandparents, Virgil and Dorothy Austin; William and Catherine Cherry; father, Steve Abel; aunts and uncles, Gary Austin, Diane (Austin) and Richard Gorton, Sharon Austin Hartline, Karen Austin San Soucie, Larry Kizer and Virginia and “Red” Cherry and cousins, Jimmy Deutsch, Brady Thompson.
His surviving relatives are his pomeranian companion, Foxy; father, Thomas Austin and wife, Jodie, Ardmore, OK; mothers, Colleen Cherry Austin Abel, League City and Mary Austin, Bowie; Ardmore, OK; sisters, Kristen Austin Baldy and husband, Bill, Rachel Austin, Lauren Austin, Ada, OK and Elizabeth Griesman and husband, Brian, Ada, OK; brother, William Douglass and wife, Haylee; uncle, Larry Austin; aunts, Jane Kizer, Wood River, IL and Nancy, Clermont, FL; nephews, Nicholas, League City, Rowen Griffin and Bennett, Plano and numerous cousins and dear friends from many places around the world.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions are made to your favorite charity.
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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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