Thomas Atkins

Graveside services are scheduled at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, May 14 at Twin Oaks Memorial Park in Artesia, N.M. for former Artesia resident Thomas Neil Atkins of Eudora, Kansas. Mr. Atkins, 61, died Monday, May 9, 2005 in Artesia. Eve Kramer, minister, will officiate at the services. Honorary pallbearers will be C.P. Atkins, Bryan Atkins, Jason Atkins, Todd Atkins, Jonathan Atkins, and Brad Shomer. No visitation is planned. Cremation will take place under the direction at Terpening Son Mortuary. Mr. Atkins was born April 9, 1944 in Hobbs, New Mexico; the son of Phillip Neil Atkins and Letha Mae Johnson Atkins. He came to Artesia from Hobbs in 1961. On Sept. 29, 1965 he was married to Verna J. Lewis in Artesia. They have resided in Kansas since 1982. He had served in the Army National Guard and was an electronics engineer in communications for the Santa Fe Railway and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway. Mr. Atkins was preceded in death by his parents; and by a sister Patricia Contrell. Survivors include his wife Verna Atkins of the family home; his mother-in-law Thelma Lewis of Artesia; children Bryan Neil Atkins and wife Erika of Blue Springs, Mo., Tiffany Shomer and husband Brad of Phoenix, Arizona, Jason Atkins and wife Cheryl of Shawnee, Okla., and Todd Atkins and wife Anissa of Overland Park, Kansas; five grandchildren; a brother C.P. Atkins and wife Rose of Sun City, Ariz.; an aunt Aline Campbell of Boring, Ore.; an uncle Billy Don Atkins of Aztec, N.M.; and various cousins, nieces, and nephews. The family requests memorial contributions be made to the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 1131, Fairfax, VA 22038-1131 or to a charity of choice.