Awbrey Lee Kothmann passed away on December 22, 2021. He was born July 1, 1928, in a two-room ranch house between Junction and London, Texas to Goodall and Nell Kothmann. Awbrey was from a generation that experienced firsthand the great depression, World War II, and the seven-year drought of the fifties. His life, especially the last four years, was filled with some very painful challenges. Throughout all, he held his head high and marched on with absolute optimism.
As a youngster, Awbrey walked (or rode horseback) the two miles to the Teacup School House. He entered Junction public schools in the fourth grade and graduated in 1945. He graduated from A&M in 1949 and has been a proud Aggie rancher ever since. Awbrey often joked about the one room Teacup School House as really the place where he got so smart.
Awbrey married LaVerne Volkmann from Menard on November 11, 1951. Awbrey and LaVerne always credited the hard work and sacrifices of their parents and ancestors for the decent life they enjoyed. They strived to improve the quality of any land they inherited, leased, or purchased as they grubbed out a humble living in some prettytough times. Their four children, Keesie, Kody, Kayla, and Kaddo, learned early on about the endless hard work of ranching in three different counties. They wore out more horses than they care to remember.
At night, the family took turns reading the Bible. They prayed before meals. Church and Sunday school were mandatory, and Awbrey expected his children to pay attention, stand up straight, and not misbehave. Upon graduation, Awbrey made it clear to the children that they could go on to A&M or stay home and chop cedar. All the children choose college.
Awbrey willingly lent his services to St. Paul Lutheran Church of Mason, the school board of Junction, the Hill Country Fair Association, the Sheep and Goat Raisers Association, etc. He served 39 years as director of the Land Bank. In short, Awbrey was the strong, honest, silent type, that never ever uttered a foul word of any kind. When he lost 1500 head of hair goats from a cold spring rain shortly after shearing, he simply said, “We still have a lot to be thankful for.” Things that made Awbrey smile were playing dominoes with family under the shade of a pecan tree, a large slice of pie, a sweet old fiddle tune, a slow twoinch rain, a good chew of tobacco, and an easy riding, gentle saddle horse. One of his favorites was a sorrel mare named “Jill.” Somehow “Jill” lasted 32 years in those Kimble County rocks.
Awbrey is survived by his wife La Verne Kothmann; his children and their spouses, Keesie and Ginger Kothmann, Kody and Janet Kothmann, Kayla and Zack Davis, Kaddo and Penni Kothmann; sixteen grandchildren, and nineteen great grandchildren. Awbrey loved his home and family, and his children will tell you that they only hope to be the parent he was. Our hearts will forever be up on Saline Creek in the hills just west of London.
Awbrey was preceded in death by his parents, Goodall Russell and Nellie Mae Kothmann and sister, Russa Nell Loeffler of Junction; Father and Mother-in-law Fritz and Valera Volkmann of Menard, and daughter-in-law, Karen Lange Kothmann of Mason.
A graveside burial was held on Sunday December 26th at 2:00 in the afternoon at the London Cemetery in London, Texas. Pallbearers were Awbrey’s thirteen grandsons: Zackary Davis, Dietrich Davis, Tillman Davis, Robert Davis, Kash Kothmann, Sterling Kothmann, Harrison Kothmann, Tanner Kothmann, Derrick Kothmann, Wilkes Kothmann, Kip Kothmann, K.T. Kothmann and Kaden Kothmann. Scriptures were read by Awbrey’s three granddaughters: Susannah Davis, Sarah Kothmann Clark, and Krysta Kothmann.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Awbrey’s memory to Grace Lutheran Church of Menard, Texas, St. Paul Lutheran Church of Mason, Texas, or The London United Methodist Church in London, Texas. The family thanks each and all for your recent prayers, concerns, and kindness.
Condolences may be sent to family on-line masonfuneralhome@verizon.net
Arrangements were entrusted to Mason Funeral Home.