Athol Longley Levisay of Bangs, age 95, passed away on February 15, 2019, with her family at her side.
She was born in Dallas on December 31, 1923, to Arthur and Willie Minnie Longley.
Athol served in the U.S. Marine Corps from January 1944 to April 1946, and she was always proud of being a Marine. After the end of World War II, she married Byron N. “Pete” Levisay and retired from the service, since a married woman was not allowed to serve in the armed forces at that time.
Athol was a wonderful example of a life well-lived. She will be remembered as an adventurous and vibrant woman who enriched the lives of all who knew her. She was a mother, an active volunteer, an artist, an art teacher, a world traveler and a dog breeder (Shetland sheepdogs). She served as a board member of the Brown County Appraisal District and the Corinne T. Smith Animal Center. She was a trustee of the First United Methodist Church of Bangs and was active in the Marine Corps League, the Brownwood Art Association, the McDaniel Home Demonstration Club and the Mary Garland Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
In 2006, she was awarded the World War II Honor & Remembrance Medal by the Daughters of the American Revolution. She proudly rode in many Veterans Day parades and often visited schools on Veterans Day.
Athol graduated from Brownwood High School in 1941 and attended Tarleton State University. Because she was a veteran, she later attended Texas A&M prior to its becoming coeducational.
Athol is survived by four children: Lynn Phares(Kirk) of North Padre Island, Tex.; Lonnie Levisay (Crystal) of Bangs; Lisa Chandler (Carl) of Santa Anna; and Lee Levisay (Pam) of Oklahoma City. She also is survived by eight grandchildren: Laura Phares Black of Omaha; Margaret Wanning (John) of Greenwood, S.C.; Adele Latell (Scott) of Brevard, N.C.; Jessica Caruthers (Daylon) of Enid, Okla.; Tye Chandler of Glen Rose, Tex.; Laci Levisay of Leander, Tex.; Lyndi Levisay of Austin; and Lesley Howell of Leander. And she is survived by nine great grandchildren (Henry Black, Thomas Black, Frances Wanning, Gretchen Wanning, Molly Wanning, Taryn Caruthers, Delaney Caruthers, Riley Caruthers and Kynli Skaggs. Her beloved pets Lady, Harley and Elmer miss her already.
She was preceded in death by her husband Byron N. “Pete” Levisay; her son Byron N. “Buster” Levisay, Jr.; her grandson Lane Chandler; her parents Arthur and Willie Minnie Longley; her brothers Clarence Longley and James Longley; and her niece Linda Longley.
Visitation will be Sunday, February 17, 2019 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. at Davis Morris Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be held Monday at 10 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Bangs. An honors service and burial will follow at the Blanket Cemetery.
The family would like to express their gratitude to the staffs at Brownwood Regional Medical Center, Oak Ridge Manor Rehabilitation Hospital and Solaris Hospice. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the First United Methodist Church of Bangs or the charity of your choice.
Online memorials can be left at www.davismorrisfuneralhome.com
