William H. Hinkie Jr.

A funeral service for William H. Hinkie, Jr., age 86, is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at First Baptist Church in Frankston with Pastor Scott Wiley officiating. He will be laid to rest at Frankston City Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Autry Funeral Home.

Visitation will take place before the service starting at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at First Baptist Church in Frankston.

He was born on Thursday, Sept. 14, 1939 to William H. Hinkie Sr. and Emily Louise (Smelley) Hinkie and passed away on Saturday, Dec. 6, 2025, in Tyler.

Will Hinkie grew up in rural North Louisiana where he played endlessly in the woods and streams as a child, learning to hunt and fish. At age 10, he came down with polio and was hospitalized in New Orleans for several months. He made a full recovery but was never quite as fast as the other boys after polio. Regardless, he overcame this physical adversity by becoming quarterback of the Bastrop High School football team a few years later.

After high school, Will became a sailor in the U.S. Navy with the dream of becoming a pilot, but color-blindness kept him grounded. He was trained as an airplane mechanic and found his niche in fixing and maintaining engines.

During his time stationed at Sanford, Florida, he met Jerry Ann Cowherd at a USO dance by bravely asking her to jitterbug with him. The new pair won the jitterbug contest that very night and the rest is history. Their wedding in Orlando followed just eight months later on Dec. 30, 1960. The honeymoon was a cross-country drive to Widbee Island, Washington where Will was stationed aboard the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier.

After his tour of duty, Will and Jerry Hinkie moved to Ruston, Louisiana where he earned a degree in Mechanical Engineering. Their first son Todd was born during these years, followed by Hank who was born in Monroe, Louisiana while Will was working his first job with an engineering firm. The couple’s last son, Bret, was born in Orlando, Florida where they had moved to be part of answering President Kennedy’s call to put a man on the moon as an engineer for a NASA contractor on the Apollo missions.

Will loved his time working in the “space race.” He single-handedly designed a fix for a malfunctioning valve that had killed a contract worker on the rocket launchpad, ultimately enabling the space program to continue on schedule. It’s no exaggeration to say that Will had a significant hand in putting the first man on the moon.

The family moved to Baton Rouge, Louisiana in 1970 where Will continued working for various engineering companies for the next 42 years. Throughout the petrochemical industry he earned a reputation as both an excellent engineer and a man of great integrity.

Will enjoyed the outdoors and appreciated the beauty of His God’s creation. His favorite outdoor activities were golf, tennis and fishing. At home, he put his mechanical skills to use repairing the family cars, appliances and house as well as those of neighbors and friends. He was known as a generous and gentle man who gave of his time, talents and treasure to those in need.

A lifelong member of Southern Baptist Churches and grandson of a Baptist preacher, Will had placed his full faith in Jesus Christ at an early age as a child. He believed in showing his faith through his actions more than just talking about it.

In 2003, Will retired and the Hinkies moved to East Texas to be near family, purchasing Bret’s home in the pilot’s community of Aero Estates. Here they found many friends with similar interests. After just one visit to First Baptist Frankston, they knew God had led them to their new church home and to new friendships prepared just for them. They are faithful members to this day and are grateful for the role Pastor Scott Wiley and wife Allison have played in their lives for the last 22 years.

William was preceded in death by his parents, William H. Hinkie, Sr. and Emily Louise Hinkie; and. sister, Mary Louise Madison.

Left to cherish William’s memory are his wife of 64 years, Jerry Ann Hinkie; sons Raymond Todd Hinkie, William Henry Hinkie III and Daniel Brandon, Timothy Bret Hinkie; brother Timothy Ross Hinkie; grandchildren, Benjamin Reid Hinkie-McDonald, wife Mykel Ilyse Hinkie-McDonald; Emily Christine Hinkie; Timothy David Hinkie; Amber Louise Hinkie; and Anna Love Hinkie.

Pallbearers will be Ryan Hinkie, Benjamin Hinkie, David Hinkie, Tim Hinkie, Johnny Burks and Bo Leary.

Honorary pallbearers are Fred Nunneley, Mike Robinson, Dean Dewees and Gary McCartan.

Rather than customary condolences, the family requests donations be made to the Hospice of East Texas, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, Texas 75701 or Noonday Community Food Pantry at P.O. Box 2185 Flint, TX 75762

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(Obituaries posted contain information posted by funeral homes and/or requested by families. Families may request changes or additions, if appropriate or required.)

Cleo Ethel Wilson (Spradlin)

Graveside services for Cleo Wilson, 97, of LaRue, are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, at Cobb Cemetery, 1498 CR 778, Groesbeck, Texas 76642, with Dan Wilson and Guy Hall officiating. Interment will be under the direction of Hannigan Smith Funeral Home in Athens..

Mrs. Wilson passed away on Dec. 28, 2025, in Athens.

Cleo Ethyl (Spradlin) Wilson was born on Sept. 14, 1928, in Bluff City, Kansas. Her parents were Alonzo and Mary Spradlin.

Cleo and her family worked hard through the depression years. She moved from Colorado to Arkansas in a covered wagon when she was very young.

She moved to Houston where she met and married James Eugene Wilson on April 25, 1947. James Wilson was a carpenter and became a gospel preacher for several Churches of Christ throughout Texas and in Missouri. Cleo Wilson had four children: Rebecca Ann, Shirley Jean, James Dan, and Verlan Robert.

Cleo was a faithful member of the Church of Christ all of her adult life. Cleo Wilson was the last of her immediate family, living to the age of 97. Survivors include her immediate family members. She was a talented seamstress and made over 200 quilts that are cherished by all her family.

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be Dan Wilson, Verlan Wilson, Robert Cade, Tim Cade, and Allan O’Pry.

A visitation will be held on Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, from 5-7 p.m. at Hannigan Smith Funeral Home.

Lawrence "Larry" Pope

Lawrence “Larry” Pope, 88, was born on May 12, 1937, in Washington, DC, to Otis A. and Ruby (Trail) Pope and passed away on Dec. 30, 2025, in Tyler. In keeping with Larry’s wishes, no services will be held. Arrangements entrusted to Autry Funeral Home in Frankston.

Larry was a member of Green Acres Baptist Church. He served his country in the Army. He earned his living as a mathematical statistician with the Department of Agriculture.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Sandra Pope; and sister, Irene Michael.

Left to cherish Larry’s memory are his son, Steven Pope and wife, Leigh, of Ohio; daughter, Cynthia Adams and husband, Kenneth, of Frankston; and son, Christopher Pope and wife, Becky, of New Zealand; sister, Janet Emerson and husband, Derrel, of Georgia; sister-in-law, Sally Niezgoda and husband, Gary, of West Virginia; sister-in-law, Bonnie Snyder Earp, of Virginia; grandchildren, Rachael, Lianna, Emma’Leigh, Catherine, Marian, Taylor, Kennia, Zachery, Brianna, and Caleb; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Rather than customary condolences, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.

Dana McMillan Barlow

Dana Barlow was born on Oct. 24, 1955, to William and Nixie McMillan and went to be with the Lord on Dec. 8, 2025.

Dana lived life with flair. A member of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Frankston, she was known for her love of cheetah print, bling, and all things gaudy. She never turned down a Diet Coke or a good bingo game, and though pink was her favorite color, she was a devoted Texas Rangers fan through and through. She had endured and survived breast cancer and Dana’s joy, humor, and unforgettable style made every moment brighter. She lived fully, laughed often, and will be remembered with love.

Dana was preceded in death by her parents; sons Zach and Robert McMahan; and sister, Laney McMillan.

Dana is survived by her brother, numerous nieces and nephews and cousins, as well as a host of friends.

The family requests that donations be sent to her favorite place, The Children’s Park of Tyler (https://childrenspark.org/donate/ .

((Information for this obituary was obtained in a post by Autry Funeral Home of Frankston.)