A service celebrating the life of John Michael Aulds Jr., 21, of Archer City was held on May 20 at First Baptist Church of Archer City. Roger Deerinwater, Rev. Mike Paschall of Wyoming, and Mikey Pesqueda officiated.
Interment followed in the Archer City Cemetery.
Mr. Aulds tragically died on May 15, 2020, in an automobile accident returning home from the University of Mississippi. He was pursuing a finance degree and had just completed his junior year.
He was born on November 1, 1998, in Wichita Falls to John Michael “Mike” Aulds and Lou Anne “Pebbles” East Aulds.
He was a 2017 graduate of Archer City High School, where he was very active in many sports and school organizations. He started mowing yards at the age of seven, and he earned enough to pay for his first truck. At the early age of 12, he exuded his entrepreneurial spirit by starting Dirty Mike and the Boys Lawn Care and Firewood business. He shared his strong work ethic, values and character with several young men who he proudly called The Boys.
While at Ole Miss, he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity where he was currently serving as pledge trainer for the upcoming fall semester.
He was a proud believer in Christ and was a member of Colonial Baptist Church in Wichita Falls. He regularly attended First United Methodist Church of Archer City when at home and also Pinelake Church of Oxford, Mississippi, when at college.
Mr. Aulds is survived by his father of Archer City; two sisters, Alex Aulds and Abby Aulds, both of Archer City; the love of his life, Courtney Zeidner of Fort Mill, South Carolina; his grandmother, Pat Aulds Garrett of Archer City; grandfather, Van P. East Jr. of Amory, Mississippi; aunts, Debbie O’Quinn and husband Jeff of Fort Worth, Karen Aulds of Archer City, Lisa Vinson of Point, and Kara Snow East of Wichita Falls; uncles, Chris Aulds and wife Terry of Dallas, Van P. East III and wife Cathy of Brentwood, Tennessee, Dave Garret and wife Janie of Coppell, and Bill Garret and wife Kay of Point; and many cousins and friends.
He was preceded in death by his mother on August 17, 2007; grandparents, R. Kenneth Aulds, David M. Garrett, and Dorothy Maie “Dot” East; uncle, Alan East; and dear friend, “Aunt” Becky Foster Taylor.
Send memorials to the John Michael Aulds Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund, C/O ACISD, P.O. Box 926, Archer City, TX 76351.
Arrangements were under the direction of Aulds Funeral Home of Archer City.