Jamie Ayres

Jamie Ayres passed away surrounded by family on Friday, December 25th. She was born October 9, 1948 to James A Ehlert and Wanda M Ehlert in Wichita Falls, Texas. She married her loving husband, Francis Brett Ayres on July 17, 1999.

Jamie spent most of her life in Wichita Falls. She attended Alamo Elementary and Zundy Junior High. She graduated from Wichita Falls High School in 1967. She furthered her education at Midwestern University and was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta sorority. Jamie held various offices in the sorority and maintained relationships with several of her sorority sisters throughout her life. After her graduation from Midwestern in 1971, she began her career as a life-long educator. She was a teacher for Wichita Falls Independent School District for over 20 years, teaching science at Kirby Jr. High, Huey Elementary, and tutoring at Fain Elementary. During her time with WFISD Jamie received the West Teaching Excellence Award. Jamie and her husband lived in North Carolina for four years where she taught in Burke County Schools. After returning to Texas to be closer to her family, she shared her teaching talents at Notre Dame Catholic School, where she taught computers until she retired from teaching. After her retirement she continued to invest her time into children by working at Girl Scouts of Texas in Wichita Falls. Jamie had several other small jobs for “entertainment” after retirement including medical transcription and researching land ownership of oil and mineral rights and royalties. She enjoyed swimming, tennis and volleyball, despite having polio as a child.

Jamie was mom to two wonderful sons, Toby Minniear and Shane Minniear. She often did science experiments with Toby and was overjoyed when she saw him graduate college as an adult. She was a dedicated sports mom, attending baseball and basketball games for both boys, but her favorite sport was soccer. She was Shane’s biggest cheerleader on the sidelines of many games and tournaments. She was “adopted mom” to several of the boy’s friends, and often took extra boys on family vacations to Ruidoso, NM.

Her greatest joy in life, was being “Nana Bubbles” to her grandsons, Carson Allen and Isaac Gregory. Brett, Toby, and Shane took a back seat once her “Munchkin Man” and “I Man” were born! Though her mobility was limited, she attended every soccer game and activity that she could and loved every minute of it!

Jamie is survived by her husband, Brett; her sons Toby and wife Amanda; Shane and wife Katie; her grandsons, Carson and Isaac. She is also survived by her sister, Kathy Merder and husband Bob as well as her niece, Michelle Ballard and husband Bryan and nephew, Jeff Merder and wife Tiffany as well as great nieces, Ashley and Tinley and her great nephew, Tyler.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the staff of Beyond Faith Hospice for the comfort and care given to Jamie; especially to Lisa who cared for her like her own family.

A celebration of Jamie’s life will be held on Thursday, January 7th at 11 AM at Hampton Vaughn Crestview Funeral Home. Services will be livestreamed on Facebook for those unable to attend.