Bonnie Ray Echols

Bonnie Ray Echols, 80, died Dec. 14 in Memorial Hermann Hospital in Sugar Land and buried in Houston National Cemetery under the direction of Mabrie Memorial Mortuary.

Echols was born June 5, 1943, the sixth child of Luranza Dow Echols and Lola Medlock Echols. He grew up in the Sandy Community of Coolidge in Limestone County. He was educated at Echols School, Woodland High School and Prairie View A&M University with a specialty in mathematics.

Echols met his wife of 56 years, Hazel Fobbs, while attending Prairie View. They married in 1967, and a few days later he reported for a two-year tour in the Vietnam War, where he served as a military strength accountant responsible for monitoring ground troop development, deployment and movement. He was a devoted husband and a father to two daughters, Rhonda and Debbie.

Echols worked as a computer programmer/systems analyst for Shell Oil Co. He retired in 1992 after 25 years of service. In retirement he pursued his passion of farming full time.

Echols was a dedicated community servant. He was president of the Paradise Valley Civic Club for 15 years. His dedication to community service continued in retirement. In February 2006, along with relatives and friends, he reformed the Echols School Community Center Board. He served as its president for 14 years. He handled the organization’s business, making sure bills were paid and construction progressed without debt. For the love of the community, the board members and faithful supporters turned an overgrown pasture into a community center.

Under Echols’ leadership the center provided scholarships for deserving Mexia and Groesbeck ISD graduates, established Saturday Soup, a free meal prepared by center members and delivered to the homes of community elders and the needy during winter months, organized a back-toschool celebration that also provided school supplies for needy students, created Octoberfest with free food and activities and developed Annual Day to raise funds, remember businesses and express gratitude for the organization’s membership.

Echols was a leader member of the organization for 17 years, resigning in 2023 due to illness. Even in illness the community he loved, now identified as Echols, Texas, on the map was never far from his mind.

Echols was preceded in death by his parents, Luranza and Lola Echols and five siblings: John Wesley, Ross, Boris, Hawthorne and Claudette. He leaves to cherish his memories his loving wife, Hazel Fobbs Echols; daughters Rhonda and Debbie; brothers Ewell and wife JoAnn, Emerson and wife Ira; sister-in-law Inez Echols and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.