Thomas Noel Atkins

Thomas Noel Atkins Thomas Noel (Tommy) Atkins, 87, passed away Saturday, January 26, 2013, in San Antonio, Texas. Tommy was born December 29, 1925, to Wyatt and Tressie (Davis) Atkins in Barrel Springs, Texas, the younger of 2 sons. He graduated from Nocona High School Class of 1944. A veteran, Tommy served in World War II in the 100th Infantry Division 398th Regiment 3rd Battalion and then later in the Korean War. Upon his return, he enjoyed a varied career as a butcher, sheet metal worker, lumber yard owner and operator, carpenter, home builder, auction worker, mule breeder, horse breaker, cattle rancher, hog farmer, author and pecan distributor to name a few. He could work with just about any tool and enjoyed sharing his famous piglet cutting boards. He led by example and taught that hard work made a good man. His children learned this lesson well as is evident by their success. Tommy loved to spend time with his family and friends. Later in life, he collected recipes and learned to bake. He valued himself as a connoisseur of pies and candies, especially those made with pecans. Tommy enjoyed playing cards and dominoes daily as well as spending Friday evenings serving or playing Bingo at the American Legion Hall in Bowie. He was actively involved in The Veterans of Foreign Wars (Lifetime Member), The American Legion (25-year Member) and served as the Past Master of the Masonic Lodge in Skellytown, Texas (52-year Member). Tommy was a member of the First Baptist Church of Nocona. He is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Dorothy (Reynolds) Atkins; along with four children: Thomas Wayne and Felicita Atkins of Bogota, Colombia, Buddy and Marcia (Atkins) Neal of Boerne, Texas, Randy Atkins and Jennifer Parrish of Sherman, Texas and Bill and Ann Mitchell of Highland Village, Texas; 11 grandchildren: Clay Atkins, Amanda Strange, Tommie (Atkins) Cochrum, Ambyr (Neal) Shires, Jennifer (Atkins) Smith, Margaret (Mitchell) Dutton, Matthew Mitchell, Betsy (Atkins) Smith and Nicholas Mitchell, Troy Neal and Trisha (Neal) Arnold and 6 great-grandchildren: Dalton Atkins, Tylee Shires, Stevie Cochrum, Krystle Weems, Jacob Stephens and Olivia Neal along with many other loving nieces, nephews and relatives. Tommy is preceded in death by his parents Wyatt and Tressie Atkins, his brother Lowell Atkins, his wife Marjorie Talley Atkins and infant son Danny Lee. Funeral services will be Feb. 1, 2013 at Scott-Morris Funeral home at 3 pm, the family will be at the funeral home on Thursday Jan 31, from 5 to 7 pm to receive guest. Burial will be in the Nocona Cemetery.