Person Page - 7258

     Robert Joe Akins was buried at Twin Oaks Memorial Park, 59 Lake Arthur Highway, Artesia, Eddy Co., New Mexico.³ He Robert Akins, Oct 31, 1948 - Jun 1, 2012. Services are scheduled Tuesday for Robert Joe Akins of Artesia, New Mexico. Mr. Akins, 63, died Friday, June 1, 2012. Burial at Twin Oaks Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Otis Yates, Wesley Neel, Zachary Berry, Wade Berry, Charlie Ebarb, and Neal Bledsoe. Honorary Pallbearers will be Dale Lynch, Wayne Derrick, Dave Walker, and James Stepp. Joe was born October 31, 1948 in Altus, Oklahoma the son of Bill Akins and Oletta Herring Akins. He was a Vietnam War veteran and served his country in the United States Army from March 10, 1971 until January 24, 1974. He came to Artesia in 1982 from Dallas, Texas. On May 25, 2006 he was married to Kathy Houston Walker in Artesia. Joe received his Bachelor Degree in Math and Computer Science from Southwestern State College in Weatherford, Oklahoma. He got his Masters in Accounting from Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma. He worked for Holly Corporation from February 1982 until September 2011. There he was the manager of several departments in the accounting division. He was also a Department of Energy Auditor. He loved photography including cave photography, hunting, traveling, motorcycles, and spending time with family and friends. Survivors include his wife Kathy Akins of the family home parents Bill Akins and wife Ann of Altus, Oklahoma, and Oletta Akins of Edmond son Jody Akins of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma sister Nancy Peace and husband Butch of Edmond brother Don Akins and wife Brenda of Altus grandchildren Bailey, Skyler, and Alex of Oklahoma City father-in-law Milton Houston of Artesia sisters-in-law Becky Neel of Artesia, and Valerie Torrez and husband Robert of Artesia nieces and nephews Edana and Otis Yates and their children Chloe, Tessa, and Macy Wesley and Lisa Neel and their children Madison, Kacy, and Kaleb Zachary and Karen Berry and son Jaxon and Wade Berry all of Artesia numerous nieces and nephews in Oklahoma including Sherry and Isaac Hansen and their children Olen and Broderric Kacie PeaceWarner and Bryant Warner and children Darius Peace and Jazmine PeaceWarner Brian and Kristen Archer and their children Hunter, Gunner, and Avery Carrie Lenard and her children Keaton, Tyson, and Jasper.³ He was born on October 31, 1948 at Altus, Jackson Co., Oklahoma.³ He married Kathy Houston on May 25, 2006.³ Robert Joe Akins died on June 1, 2012 at New Mexico at age 63.³

     Lavinia Byrd was born on September 18, 1931 at Gould, Harmon Co., Oklahoma.² As of January 12, 1946,her married name was Herring.¹ She married William Presley Herring, son of William Delma Herring and Beryl Hazel Martin, on January 12, 1946 at Altus, Jackson Co., Oklahoma.¹ Lavinia Byrd died on April 24, 2014 at Fair Oaks, Sacramento Co., California, at age 82.² She Lavinia Herring, aged 82, passed away on April 24, 2014, at Phoenix Manner, in Fair Oaks. She is survived by her children Melanie (Neal), Melinda (Del), Ann Marie (Roger), Helen, and William; eleven adored Grandchildren, Bob (Tanya), Holly (Brian), Jared, Kelly (Nathan), Casey (Charity), Nathan, John William, Shane (Michiko), Chris, Kyle and Bryan and six great grandchildren, Nicholas, Reyna, Joshua, Owen, Jacob and Sylvia; sister Lorene; sister-in-law Elsie, brother-in-law Gale and many nieces and nephews. Lavinia was preceded in death by her beloved husband Bill, her mother and father Jim and Julia Byrd, her brother Robin, and her sisters Lucille, Emily, Frances, and Gwen. Lavinia was born in Gould, Oklahoma on September 18, 1931. She grew up on the family farm in Jackson County Oklahoma and attended Friendship High School where she met her high school sweetheart, Bill. They were married in 1949. During her high school years Lavinia played basketball. She was a talented, left-handed forward and was selected as a member of the state high school championship all-tournament team. She later shared her knowledge and love for the game with her grandchildren. Lavinia was a homemaker during the early years of their marriage raising their children. She and Bill moved from Altus, Oklahoma to Vernon, Texas and finally settled in Roswell, New Mexico where they stayed for over ten years. In 1965 they moved their family to Sacramento, California. In her later years she started a successful small house cleaning business in the Sacramento area. Lavinia was proud to provide jobs and services as a small business owner. Family was very important to Lavinia and she loved the large family gatherings, especially at Christmas. She could often be seen at gatherings, off to the side, watching, smiling and taking it all in. She was extremely proud of all of her children and grandchildren. She loved telling stories about how smart her grandchildren were and told them frequently to anyone who would listen. Lavinia was a special woman, mother and grandmother who touched the lives of not only her family, but the many people around her, and she will be in our hearts forever. on May 6, 2014.²

     VerDean Joyce Mears was buried at Carlsbad Cemetery, 1506 Boyd Drive, Carlsbad, Eddy Co., New Mexico.² Her Social Security Number was 525-50-6816.¹ She was born on May 22, 1931 at Portales, Roosevelt Co., New Mexico.^1,2 As of June 15, 1955,her married name was Herring.² She married Arthur D. Herring, son of William Delma Herring and Beryl Hazel Martin, on June 15, 1955 at Roswell, Chaves Co., New Mexico.² VerDean Joyce Mears died on April 15, 2001 at Carlsbad, Eddy Co., New Mexico, at age 69.^1,3,2 She A graveside service for Verdean J. Mears Herring, 69, of Tracy Place, will be at Carlsbad Cemetery. Mrs. Herring died Sunday, April 15, 2001, at Lakeview Christian Home of the Southwest Inc., Northgate Unit. Verdean J. Mears Herring was born May 22, 1931, in Portales, to Jessie Lee Mears and Vera O. Durham Mears. She moved to Carlsbad at an early age. She graduated from Carlsbad High School and attended business college. She married Art Herring, a baseball player, on June 15, 1955, in Roswell. They lived in Albuquerque for 10 years, where she worked for a textiles company. In 1966, she returned to Carlsbad and worked for her parents as a waitress at Cortez Restaurant. She worked there for 27 years before retiring in 1993. Mrs. Herring enjoyed fishing and metal detecting. She was preceded in death by her father in 1973; brother, Kenneth Wayne Mears; and a daughter, Carla Salter on July 5, 2000. Survivors include her husband of Carlsbad; son, Mike Herring of Carlsbad; mother Vera Hernandez of Carlsbad; brother, Eldon Mears of Albuquerque; sister, Yvette Jean Scott of Albuquerque; and five grandchildren. on April 17, 2001.²