Jewel Ernestine Player Boyles, 93, of Coahoma, died Sunday, October 17, 2021 in her home. Visitation will begin at 1:30 at Coahoma Church of Christ, with the service to follow at 2:30 PM, with Eddy Pitchford, minister of the Coahoma Church of Christ officiating. Interment will follow at Coahoma Cemetery in Coahoma.
“A cheerful heart is of good medicine…”(Proverbs 17:22) Laughter, kindness and love are just a few of the many ways she lived her life. She loved her family and friends dearly and they were blessed by that strong sense of love! Ernestine was born June 29, 1928 to Ernest and Jewel Player in Louann, Arkansas. Ernestine and her sister Barbara were raised in a loving home and taught to work hard.
She grew up in Kilgore, Texas and had some very interesting jobs. She worked at the local drugstore and made milkshakes for then sickly Van Cleberne who grew up to be a famous piano player. She later worked at the Toggery, a local shoe store, where she modeled shoes. When she began Kilgore Junior College she became one of the Kilgore Rangerettes and traveled all over the state performing. She was very proud of her Rangerette position and loved telling you about it. When leaving Kilgore Junior College she ran into Shannon Boyles whom she had known since Elementary. Three months later they were married. She received her Bachelors in Business Administration in 1975.
Ernestine and Shannon had two children, Sherry and Shannon Jr. When Shannon Jr. was 6 weeks old they followed the oil boom which led them to Kentucky, West Virginia and Louisiana. They moved to Coahoma in 1965 where they owned and operated Harding Well Service. Upon retiring they moved to Del Rio where Shannon passed away in 2005. Ernestine returned to her home in Coahoma three years later.
Her days revolved around her family, cooking, shopping, and playing cards! She loved her church family and had such wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ. They loved her and she loved them. She talked to some of them daily and enjoyed all their visits. She was a special lady with a zest for life!
Ernestine is survived by her daughter, Sherry Rowden and husband Hubert, son, Shannon, and his wife Kay. Grandchildren, Jarred Rowden and his wife Kara, children Paxton and Parker, Monty Rowden and wife, Haley, children Reece and Maren, Shayna Gattis and husband Casey, children, Canon, Kassidy Eakin and husband Marty, children Wyatt, Niece, Jeanie Coor and husband Kurt, children, Mason, Braxton and Sydni, Nephew, Gaylan Harding and wife Gwen, children Kris and Sheena, Sister-in-law, Dana Wilkinson, children, Dana Lea, and Marcia Hamby.
She was preceded in death by her husband Shannon, parents, Ernest and Jewel Player, sister, Barbara Robertson, husband Gene, Brother-in-law, Marc Wilkinson and son Marc, Uncle and Aunt, Gaylan and Irene Harding.
A huge appreciation to Deborah Sullivan, Margaret McDaniel and Margarita Rodriquez for helping her at home in the last few months. They were a blessing to our family!
Memorials may be made to Coahoma Church of Christ.
Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home and Crematory. Online condolences can be made at www.npw.com