Arley G. Echols

Arley G. Echols, passed away on Monday, February 16, 2015 in Stephenville. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 AM Thursday, February 19th at Stephenville First Baptist Church with Reverend Ben Macklin officiating, assisted by Kevin Miles, Danny Walker, and Ed Dittfurth. Burial will follow at Erath Gardens of Memory Cemetery. Visitation will be 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Wednesday at Stephenville Funeral Home. Arley was born July 23, 1946 in Texarkana, Texas to the late Roy and Dorothy Oliver Echols. He married Cathy Wilson on July 19, 1975 in Stephenville. Arley graduated from Plains High School, and received his Bachelor of Education and Master of Education Administration from Tarleton State University. He taught several years as a 6th grade math teacher with the Stephenville ISD, served as Superintendent of Schools in Three Way ISD from 1988-1992, and Huckabay ISD from 1992 until he retired in 2000. He was currently employed as the Veteran Affairs Officer for Erath County. Arley served in the U. S. Army as a Chaplain Assistant in Korea during the Vietnam conflict. Arley was a member of the First Baptist Church, and has lived in Stephenville for the past 45 years. Survivors include his wife, Cathy; son, Michael Wilson and wife Alecia Echols of Stephenville; daughter, Jennifer Lynn and husband Brian Lesley of Stephenville; granddaughters, Audrey Lynn Echols and Emily Lynn Lesley; brothers, Dan & wife Judy Echols of Abilene, Jerry and wife Sandra Echols of Gilmer, Paul and wife Tammy Echols of Lindale; sister, Marie and husband Gale Phillips of DeQueen, Arkansas; father-in-law and mother-in-law, T. H. and Mary Wilson of Stephenville; and several nieces and nephews. Arley was preceded in death by his step-father, Andrew Burdett and step-mother, Opal Echols; by 3 step-brothers and 1 step-sister.