Funeral services for Mr. Tom "Tunk" Akins, age 88, of Beckville, TX, will be held at 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 7, 2011, at Jimerson-Lipsey Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Bruce Will officiating. A Masonic graveside service will follow at Restland Memorial Park near Carthage under the auspices of the Beckville Masonic Lodge #922 A.F. & A.M. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. on Wednesday at the funeral home. Mr. Akins passed away on Tuesday evening, July 5, 2011, at his home in Beckville.

Thompson Theo "Tunk" Akins was born on May 22, 1923, in Beckville, TX to Horace and Annie Mae Robinson Akins. He graduated from Beckville High School with the class of 1940. Mr. Akins served his country in the U.S. Coast Guard during WWII as a radioman aboard a ship and was honorably discharged. Mr. Akins married Hazel Lynn Overton on Dec. 7, 1957, in Waco, TX and she preceded him in death on Feb. 11, 1996. He worked as an Air Traffic Controller for the F.A.A. until his retirement in 1978. Mr. Akins was a mason for over 50 years and was a member of the Beckville Masonic Lodge #922 A.F. & A.M. He enjoyed life with his family in Beckville and his favorite past times were fishing and caring for his beautiful yard. He was a wonderful and loving husband, dad, granddad, great-granddad, and friend to many. He moved back to Beckville in 1960, from Waco and was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Beckville. "Mr. Tunk" could be found most any afternoon sitting in his front yard enjoying the day and giving his friends and all those passing his house a big "howdy" and wave. He was also preceded in death by his parents; his son, Thomas Larry Akins who passed away in 1974; one brother, James Truman Akins; and one sister, Berna Lee Akins English.

Mr. Akins is survived by his daughter, Angie Burnett Elliott and husband Wayne of Beckville; one brother, Horace L. Akins, Jr. of Reno, NV; four grandchildren, Tracie Elliott Wise and husband Nathan, Toni Elliott Nixon and husband Andy, Terry Wayne Elliott and wife Jessica, and Kristie Akins; and ten great-grandchildren, Braden Wise, Taylor Lindsay, Trey Lindsay, James Nixon, Tristan Nixon, Hayley Nixon, Tanner Elliott, Sophie Elliott, Jackson Elliott, and Dakota Jones.

Serving as pallbearers are Terry Elliott, Nathan Wise, Andy Nixon, Kenneth Pierce, Frank Allums, and Lane Harris.

The family would like to extend a special thanks to the staff and nurses of Heart's Way Hospice, Melinda Qualls and Carolyn Grace, and Mr. Akins sitters, Joe Ella Walls, Christine Hudson, and Linda Elliott for the loving care given to Mr. Akins.

If desired, memorials may be made to Heart's Way Hospice 437 W. Panola St., Carthage, TX 75633.

A guestbook may be signed online at www.jimerson-lipsey.com.