John Thomas (JT) Akins was born July 14, 1939, in the front room of the family farmhouse in Killeen, Texas in a time before they had electricity to the house. He passed at home in College Station, Texas on September 20, 2026, while on hospice care. He was the only living child of Howard Lee Akins and Lydia Clara Akins who both proceeded him in death. He was also proceeded in death by his beloved, steadfast canine companion Pickle Juice. He is survived by his three children Barbara Ponath, Dennis Akins and Debra Akins; his three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

John graduated from Killeen High School Class 1957. He went on to attend college at Texas A&M University and Texas Lutheran College. He earned his degree in Agricultural Education from TAMU Class of 1962. After college he worked for the Soil Conservation Service in Fairfield, Texas then went on to manage Plum Creek Ranch in Dew, Texas. He returned to his hometown Killeen, Texas to work as an agronomist at Fort Hood starting at the golf course then advancing to land management and on to building and structures management until his retirement.

John was always proud of his agricultural heritage and grew up in a time where everything was repaired, reused and repurposed, helping him become a jack of all trades. He always had a respect for the land which gave sustenance to life. He grew, harvested, hunted or caught much of his food sources. He went from using horses to plow and work the land as a child to having a tractor with an enclosed cab as an adult. He was always a life long farmer and rancher involved in cattle and hay production.

John was proud of his Native American heritage which lead to some of his favorite past times like flint knapping, making rawhide and buckskin, tanning hides, and picking out the right piece of Bois d’Arc wood to make a good bow. He also enjoyed reading, hunting, fishing, woodworking, carving and collection old cars even though he rarely got around to restoring them.

John was a life long member of the Immanuel Lutheran Church in Killeen, Texas and a Master Mason in the Grand Lodge of Texas (Fairfield) for over 62 years. He supported the NRA.

Please make any donations to an animal shelter/ rescue group or Native American support group in his memory.