Funeral services for Ernest Cecil Elkins, age 85, of Brownwood will be held Monday 3pm at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Bangs Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday from 2-5pm at Heartland Funeral Home, Early.
Cecil passed from his place on Earth and entered his Heavenly home on Thursday, May 4th at Brownwood Regional Hospital.
Cecil was born in Brownwood, Texas, on July 22, 1931 to Bennie and Iva Elkins. He attended school in Brownwood and played football and basketball for the Lions. He played on the basketball team that was state runner up in 1949. After graduation, he attended Howard Payne College. For him, it was love at first sight, when he fell for Jewel Ferguson who worked at McClellan’s Five & Dime. He married Jewel in 1951 after he joined the Navy to serve his country during the Korean War as a Torpedoman’s Mate on the USS Miller destroyer ship from 1951-1954.
Upon returning to Brownwood, he earned his Masters of Education at Howard Payne College in 1958. While in college, he was inducted into the Who’s Who of College Students and served in various student body roles. He played football at Howard Payne and signed a contract to play in the NFL for the New York Giants, but ultimately chose to stay in Brownwood and raise his family and take a coaching job at Brownwood High School. He also coached in Hondo and Lampasas, but returned to Brownwood to coach at the junior high school. For several years, he was the Vice Principal at the junior high school until he suffered a massive stroke at the age of 43. This stroke set the stage for the making of what many would consider the strongest man they knew. For the next year, Cecil fought for his life and was able to make an amazing, but challenging recovery. He surprised those around him by making a second career as a Walmart people greeter and is remembered for his jolly smile, hugs, and happy face stickers. He retired from Walmart in 2003 after 15 years and enjoyed his remaining time with his wife and family.
Cecil gave his life to the Lord and was baptized at Coggin Avenue Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Jewel, who served as his rock during his most trying times, his sister, Sandra Looper, of Odessa, a daughter Ronda Lovelady and husband Randal of Brownwood, and grandchildren Stephanie, Melanie and Alicia, a son Dana Elkins and wife Heidi of Highlands Ranch, Colorado and grandchildren Liam and Brendan. In addition he is survived by three grandchildren, Jennifer, Allison, and Bradley, all children of his daughter, Diane Scott, who precedes him in death. He also is survived by 11 great grandchildren and fondly known as “Big Papa.” Cecil is preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Burman, and a sister, Bennie Jean.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Permian Basin Honor Flight, at PO Box 52890, Midland, Texas, 79710. The Honor Flight takes War Veterans to see their respective memorials in Washington DC; Cecil attended this flight in 2015.
Online memorials can be left at heartlandfuneralhome.net.