Services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 5, at West Main Baptist Church, for Robert Joe Akins of Artesia, N.M.

Mr. Akins, 63, died Friday, June 1, 2012 in a motorcycle accident.

Ronnie Williams officiated at the services with burial at Twin Oaks Memorial Park. Pallbearers were Otis Yates, Wesley Neel, Zachary Berry, Wade Berry, Charlie Ebarb, and Neal Bledsoe. Honorary Pallbearers were Dale Lynch, Wayne Derrick, Dave Walker, and James Stepp.

Visitation was at Terpening & Son Mortuary on Monday .

Joe was born Oct. 31, 1948, in Altus, the son of Bill Akins and Oletta (Herring) Akins.

He was a Vietnam War veteran and served his country in the United States Army from March 10, 1971 until Jan. 24, 1974.

He came to Artesia in 1982 from Dallas, Texas.

On May 25, 2006 he married Kathy Houston-Walker in Artesia.

Joe received his Bachelor Degree in Math and Computer Science from Southwestern State College in Weatherford. He got his Masters in Accounting from Central State University in Edmond. He worked for Holly Corporation from February 1982 until September 2011. There he was the manager of several departments in the accounting division. He was also a Department of Energy Auditor. He loved photography including cave photography, hunting, traveling, motorcycles, and spending time with family and friends.

Survivors include his wife Kathy Akins of the family home; parents, Bill Akins and wife Ann of Altus, and Oletta Akins of Edmond; son, Jody Akins of Oklahoma City; sister, Nancy Peace and husband Butch of Edmond; brother, Don Akins and wife Brenda of Altus; grandchildren, Bailey, Skyler, and Alex of Oklahoma City; father-in-law, Milton Houston of Artesia; sisters-in-law, Becky Neel of Artesia, and Valerie Torrez and husband Robert of Artesia; nieces and nephews, Edana and Otis Yates and their children Chloe, Tessa, and Macy; Wesley and Lisa Neel and their children Madison, Kacy, and Kaleb; Zachary and Karen Berry and son Jaxon; and Wade Berry, all of Artesia; numerous nieces and nephews in Oklahoma including Sherry and Isaac Hansen and their children Olen and Broderric; Kacie Peace-Warner and Bryant Warner and children Darius Peace and Jazmine Peace-Warner; Brian and Kristen Archer and their children Hunter, Gunner, and Avery; Carrie Lenard and her children Keaton, Tyson, and Jasper.