Billy Tompkins

Services for Billy Ben Tompkins, 77, of Chandler, will be held on Monday, July 2, 2012, at 10:00 AM at Stewart Family Funeral Home Chapel in Tyler with Rev. Buddy Powell and Rev. Derek Rogers officiating. Burial with Masonic Rites will follow at Chandler Memorial Cemetery in Chandler under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Mr. Tompkins passed away Thursday, June 28, 2012 at Trinity Mother Frances Hospital. He was born November 3, 1934 in Brownsboro to Grady and Delia Welch Tompkins. He lived his entire lifetime in the Brownsboro-Chandler area. Mr. Tompkins was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Brownsboro since his childhood. He was a School Board Trustee for Brownsboro ISD for over 18 years; member of Masonic Lodge #1051 in Brownsboro, where he was past Master and fifty plus year member and a 32nd degree Scottish Rite; member of Sharon Shriners Temple and a member of Tyler Masonic Lodge #1233. He was on the Board of Directors at the First State Bank of Brownsboro since 1982 and past Board of Director of Region 7 Amature Field Trial Association. Throughout his life he enjoyed raising and training bird dogs and competing in field trials. He graduated from Brownsboro High School and East Texas State College in Commerce. Mr. Tompkins taught school in Crystal City and LaPoynor until going to work for Kelly Springfield in 1962, being the 23rd local person to be hired. He retired as the Business Center Manager in 1996. In addition to his parents, Mr. Tompkins was preceded in death by his two sisters, Audrey “Sis” Smith and Dorothy “Dot” Currin. He is survived by his loving family including his wife of 51 years, Emogene Lewis Tompkins of Chandler; sons, Billy Clayton Tompkins and wife Tina of Athens and Ty Tompkins and wife Belinda of Chandler; daughter, Tonya Tompkins of Chandler; grandchildren, Colby Elkins, Matt Tompkins, Lacy Basile, Jacobi Parker, Josh Parker and Jaclyn Gentry; six great-grandchildren; sister, Nell Dodd of Nixa, Missouri; Roger Goodsell, whom he thought of as a son and very special friend, Arthur Oubre. Pallbearers will be Josh Fulgham, Jeff Fulgham, Larry Lewis, Steve Currin, Brett Currin, Amos “Bug” Harmon III, Dan Horton and Bill Horton. Honorary pallbearers will be Joey Fitzgerald, Tony Terrell, Dean Campbell, men of the First United Methodist Church of Brownsboro and First State Bank of Brownsboro Board of Directors. Visitation is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 PM on Sunday, July 1, 2012 at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Highway, in Tyler. If desired, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Brownsboro, P.O. Box 154, Brownsboro, TX. 75756

Billy Tompkins

November 3, 1934 - June 28, 2012