Dee (Bud) Wyatt Akins III

Dee Wyatt Akins III, known affectionately as "Bud," passed away on August 18, 2025, in Long Beach, California at the age of 87. Bud leaves behind a legacy of devotion to family, education, and community. He was a well-known and much-loved English professor for many years in Lawrence, Kansas at Haskell Junior College, which eventually became Haskell Indian Nations University. Bud had a reputation for putting high expectations on his students but also mentored them to succeed in life when they were out of school.

Bud retired from Haskell Indian Nations University in 2003 after teaching there for 33 years. He was an avid golf enthusiast and enjoyed many rounds in and around Lawrence, Kansas with former Haskell friends and colleagues Earl Waters and Gilbert Osbern. In addition to his golf addiction, Bud was also an avid reader of history books, became a super-fan of the sport of boxing, and was a major supporter and fan of Kansas University basketball and football and Kansas City Chiefs football. Bud was also a master at grilling any kind of meat on his famous "green egg" grill on the back patio of his long-time home in Lawrence, Kansas, which was always open to friends who needed a good meal or a place to rest their head.

Born in Jacksonville, Texas, Dee Wyatt Akins III married Margaret Alice Powell on September 30, 1960, in Shreveport, Louisiana. They met while both were students at Centenary College in Shreveport. Bud's matrimonial partnership with Margaret spanned decades, and together they nurtured two sons and shared countless memories as professional teachers, mentors, neighbors, parents, grandparents and friends to so many.

Bud is survived by his sons Kevin Akins (spouse Anh Thu), of Rancho Palos Verdes, California, and Steve Akins (spouse Sabina), of Cary, North Carolina, his brother Thomas S. Akins (spouse Irene) of Ft. Worth, Texas, grandchildren Emily Akins of Raleigh, North Carolina and Jonathan Nguyen of San Diego, California and their families, and countless nephews, nieces and friends.

Bud was preceded in death by his wife Margaret Akins on June 25, 2019, sister, Dorothy Jean Akins, formerly of Gold River, California on August 28, 2017, and by his parents, Dee Wyatt Akins Jr. – and Martha Jane Stanley Akins (1916-1995).

Funeral arrangements are pending and will be announced soon. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations to the Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research or your local Humane Society or Animal Shelter. The family extends heartfelt thanks to those who offered their support during this time of loss. Bud's memory will be cherished by all of us who knew his kindness, humility, and generous spirit.