Oliver T. Boyette

Oliver Theo Boyette Jr., known by those who loved him as Oliver T., O.T., T-Bird, Mister, Coach, and Poppi, age 73, of San Augustine, Texas, passed away on Wednesday, December 10, 2025, in Tyler, Texas.

Oliver was born in San Augustine, Texas, on March 30, 1952, to Lucene (Hays) and Oliver Theo Boyette Sr. He became a Christian in junior high and was a member of the San Augustine Methodist Church. Oliver graduated from San Augustine High School in 1970 and afterward attended Sam Houston State University and East Texas Baptist College, where he honed his skills as an excellent baseball and pool player.

On November 24, 1983, Oliver married his sweetheart, Nancy (Flournoy), and became a devoted father to his sons, Josh and David Ponder. Poppi’s greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren—Austin, Addison, and Aiden—who were the light of his life.

Oliver is preceded in death by his mother and father. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; son Josh and his wife, Elizabeth; son David and his wife, Jessica, and their children, Austin, Addison, and Aiden; his sisters, Judy Boyette (Tallahassee, Florida) and Marialice Bailey (Vidor, Texas). He will truly be missed by his almost-brother and cousin, Stephen Hays, numerous nieces and nephews, and more faithful friends than can be counted.

As many family members and friends have shared in recent days, Oliver was good at just about anything he set his mind to. Whether he was catching a fish, throwing a ball, coaching Little League, or playing a lively game of 42, you always wanted Oliver on your team—and he always was.

He captured decades of local events and memories as a sports reporter and photographer for the San Augustine Tribune throughout his life. Alongside his wife, he owned Boyette’s Photography for more than 35 years and took more photographs of local brides than can be counted. Oliver also served his community as a member of the San Augustine Volunteer Fire Department. He and his wife have been active members of San Augustine Methodist Church.

His long career with the U.S. Postal Service was marked by dedication and community service. He served as Officer in Charge at Tenaha and San Augustine and retired as Postmaster, having served in Woden, Hemphill, and Brookeland.

Visitation will be held Sunday, December 14, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Wyman Roberts Funeral Home, located at 316 W. Columbia Street in San Augustine, Texas.

Funeral services are set for 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at the Wyman Roberts Memorial Chapel, with Pastor Tim Turner and Judge Jeff Boyd officiating. Committal service and interment will follow at Liberty Hill Memorial Garden.

His pallbearers will be his grandson, Austin Ponder; nephews, Rodney Williams and Stephen Foster; and friends, Juan “Junior” Diaz, Fisher Hardy, and Chad Elumbaugh. Honorary pallbearers will be the Wednesday Night Social Club and the Thursday Night 42 Crowd.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be directed to the San Augustine Methodist Church Youth Group, the American Heart Association (heart.org), the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (pulmonaryfibrosis.org), or the American Diabetes Association (diabetes.org). The family is deeply grateful to Dr. John and Sharon Oglesbee and to the caring teams at UT Health Tyler and Hospice of East Texas for their kindness, compassion, and exceptional quality of care.

Visit www.wymanrobertsfh.com for memories and condolences.

Arrangements are under the direction of Wyman Roberts Funeral Home in San Augustine, Texas.

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