Beth O’Neil Atkins
Beth O’Neil Atkins, 96, died July 19, 2018 at her home in Lubbock surrounded by loving family and friends.
Beth was born in Wellington, Texas on September 20, 1921 to Beulah and Lee C. O’Neil. She was a member of the Pioneer O’Neil family who established the town of Wellington. She graduated from Wellington High School and attended the University of Texas at Austin where she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta and Alpha Lambda Delta. Beth was a Bluebonnet Belle at the University, having been selected for her beauty and poise. She received her Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from the University of Texas School of Law during World War II.
Beth married Joe Atkins in Lubbock, Texas in 1949 and moved to the Mill Iron Ranch. She and Joe purchased a ranch near Yates, New Mexico and started ranching in that community in 1950. In 1973, she and Joe purchased a ranch in Missouri. After ranching in Missouri several years, Beth and Joe retired to their farming interests on Blackwater Draw west of Cotton Center, Texas. She helped manage several family farms in that area. Her memberships included the Roy Women’s Club, Roy Longhorn Booster Club, Missouri Cowbells, Lubbock Women’s club, Museum League and Texas Tech Museum, Ranching Heritage Association, Horizon Club and Red Raider Club.
Beth was a member of the first class of five women law school graduates at UT to clerk for the Texas Supreme Court. She was honored in recent years by the Historical Society of the Texas Supreme Court for this distinction. She was a great Red Raider fan attending Raider basketball and football games for decades. Her family has held Red Raider football season tickets for more than 80 years. Beth started and endowed the Jeannine McHaney Administrative Intern Endowment at Texas Tech. She was a wonderful cook and homemaker in addition to being an astute business woman.
She was predeceased by her husband Joe Atkins and her parents Beulah and Lee C. O’Neil. She is survived by her daughter, Lenora Neil Atkins of Roy, New Mexico and Albuquerque, her son Hugh Atkins of Wittman, Arizona. Also surviving are her cousins, Dr. and Mrs. John Jones and family of Lubbock, and many other relatives and friends.
At Beth’s request, no services will be held. At a later date, her ashes will be scattered over Ute Creek Canyon on the family ranch near Roy, New Mexico.
The family suggests memorials to the Beth Atkins Endowment, Ranching Heritage Center, P.O. Box 43200, Lubbock, Texas 79409 or South Plains Food Bank, 2610 Locust Ave., Lubbock, Texas 79404. Online condolences may be offered at