Autov Shanks

Autov Shanks went to his home in Heaven, Friday, October 26, 2018, at his home in San Angelo. Funeral services will be 1:00 PM, Tuesday, October 30, 2018 at the Nalley-Pickle & Welch Rosewood Chapel.  Interment to follow at Trinity Memorial Park.Autov “Ump” was born in Comanche County on February 13, 1931. He was the eighth of eleven children of Grover C. Shanks, Sr. and Clara Hightower Shanks, a well-known farm family of the Vealmore Community in Howard County.  The family had moved from Comanche County when Autov was 9 years old.  He attended schools in the area and Knott High School.August 2, 1950 he married Mary Ellen Bailey. They moved to Odessa where Autov was employed by Texas Electric Service Company (later TXU) on January 3, 1950.  He started as a truck driver and over time became a distribution line crew foreman for several years before retiring July 31, 1986.  He received a 36 years safety award.After retirement, Autov and Mary moved to Val Verde County with Blue Sage West Development on the Devil’s River, about 40 miles northwest of Del Rio, where they have lived for past 20 years. They also had a home in San Angelo since 2011.Autov and Mary lived in Odessa for over 50 years. There they raised two children, worked and served in many capacities.  As members of Highland Methodist and St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Autov helped in the building of the churches; served on the official Board and was Sunday School Superintendent.  He also worked with Boy Scouts and in other areas.  He has been a member of Sierra Vista United Methodist Church in San Angelo since 2013.Autov was an outdoorsman; enjoying hunting, fishing, traveling and camping. He was a member of The Texas Archaeology Society, an avid hunter and collector of American Indian artifacts.  He later collected items including pocket knives, straight razors, guns, fishing lures, porcelain signs, etc., then all kinds of western collectibles, especially spurs.  All this soon led to selling and trading.  He had booths in an antique shop (ABA) in San Angelo.  Autov really enjoyed traveling to acquire collectible things with his brothers, Charlie and John, and son, Steve.  They were known as Texas Traders and Shanks Brothers.  Family was very important to Autov and Mary as well as enjoying our great country.  On their travels they not only took their children, but over time, took each of their five grandchildren on trips to the northwest states, as well as two of their seven great-grandchildren.He was well remembered by all children by telling the tale of “Farmer Jones and Little Willie” and singing “Old Chisolm Trail” and “All Around the Water Tank”.Autov was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters, Norene Guill and Eva Mae Shanks; five brothers, Clim, Doyle, Grover Jr., Howard and John Shanks.A chapel was built on their property in Val Verde County in memory of brother, John, who died in 1999, also a property owner there.Survivors include his wife, Mary of the home; daughter “Jackie” Lumry and husband, Ray of San Angelo; son, Stephen Autov Shanks of Val Verde County; sister, Jimmye Burks; and two brothers, Charlie Shanks and Wade Shanks and wife, Dorothy all of Big Spring. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Jennifer Wallace and husband, Michael, and their children, Garrett Sestric and wife, Kristen, Karlee and Lauren Wallace of San Angelo, Rebecca Simmons and husband, James and their daughter,  Ava of Ft. Worth; Clinton Shanks and Kristi Babcock and their children, Bailee Shanks, Chris and Bradley Babcock of McQueeny; Sarah White and husband, Jeremy and their children, Mara and Emory of San Antonio; and John Shanks and wife, Lisa of Wiley; three sisters-in-law, Florene Shanks, Doylean Shanks, and Charlene Shanks; and numerous nieces, nephews and a host of friends.The family would like to thank all the caregivers from Kindred at Home and Hospice of San Angelo for the exceptional care that Autov received the last six weeks.In lieu of flowers, we ask for donations to be made to Hospice of San Angelo, 36 E. Twohig Ave., Suite 1100, San Angelo, Texas 76903 or Sierra Vista United Methodist Church, 4522 College Hills Blvd., San Angelo, Texas 76904.Arrangements under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com,