OBITUARIES
Herman Lorain Evans
Herman Lorain Evans
September 22, 1926 – July 11, 2017
BOWIE — Herman Lorain Evans, 90, passed away peacefully on July 11, 2017, in Bowie.
Visitation was from 6-8 p.m. on July 14, at The White Funeral Home in Bowie. The funeral service was at 10 a.m. on July 15 in First Baptist Church, Bowie, Texas.
Burial followed at Elmwood Cemetery.
H. L. (Lo) Evans was born in Longview to Herman L. and Cecil Evans on Sept. 22, 1926. He attended and graduated from Longview public schools, where he was a proud Longview Lobo.
Following high school, he attended Baylor University in Waco. His education was put on hold while he served in the in the United Stated Navy during World War II.
Back at Baylor after the war, he met and married Alyce Charlotte Gibson. Following college graduation, they both taught school in Marlin, Texas where Lo was a fifth grade science teacher. They moved to Lubbock, where he completed his master’s degree in education while continuing to teach.
Soon after, they moved to Irving, Texas, where Charlotte taught school and Lo worked to earn his medical degree from Southwestern Medical School. After graduating in 1958, he practiced medicine in Alto, Texas, where he was the only doctor in town.
In Alto, he served on the school board during desegregation and was active in First Baptist Church, serving as a deacon, a Sunday school teacher and a member of the building committee.
At the suggestion of a dear friend from medical school, Mac Browder, Lo and Charlotte made the prayerful decision to move their family to Bowie in the summer of 1971. Lo was glad for the opportunity to work at the Bowie Clinic with other doctors and to be close to a modern hospital.
The Evans family was delighted to find a church home at First Baptist Church in Bowie, as well. At FBC, Lo served in multiple roles on committees, as Sunday school superintendent and as a teacher of the Men’s Sunday School Class.
Dr. Evans practiced medicine for more than 41 years. His first wife, Charlotte, died in 1975 after a recurrence of cancer. He was blessed to marry Nita Faith Winter in 1985. Together, they shared an active faith, a loving marriage and a happy family – six married children, 10 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Family gatherings were lively, noisy events that Lo thoroughly enjoyed.
Lo was preceded in death by his parents; Charlotte; his sister, Ruby Nell Howse; and his granddaughter, Natalie Winter.
He is survived by his sister, Maribell Evans Erwin. Lo is also survived by his family: wife, Nita Evans; his son and daughter-in-law, Paul and Susan Evans; his daughter and son-in-law, Ellen and Sam Underwood; his step-son Norman Winter and his wife, Jan; his step-son Michael Winter and his wife, Liz; and his step-son Lance Winter and his wife, Becca; his grandchildren: Daniel Evans and his wife, Katy; Will, Pamela, and Molly Underwood; Kimberly Brown; James Winter and his wife, Sarah; Madelyn and Elizabeth Winter; Dustin Winter and his wife, Jamie; and Laura Winter; his great-grandchildren: Virginia, Jack, and William Evans; Emma Grace Winter; and Breanna and Joseph Winter.
Pallbearers: Daniel Evans, Will Underwood, James Winter, Dustin Winter, Ronnie Hankins, John McShan, Bert Harvill and Steve Gilland.
Memorials may be given to First Baptist Church, Bowie.
The family of H. L. Evans extends our sincere thanks to Dr. Surinder Aujla and Dr. Gary Evans, the staff at both Independence Hall and Advanced Rehab of Bowie, and our dear brothers and sisters from First Baptist Church, Bowie.
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October 6, 1958 – April 23, 2024
BOWIE – Michael Dale Leonard, 65, died on April 23, 2024 in Dallas.
The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on April 26 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. on April 27 at the First Baptist Church of Bowie with Ben Weiss, chaplain of Southlake Fire Department, officiating. Burial will follow at Oakhill Cemetery in Stoneburg.
He was born on Oct. 6, 1958 in Pampa and grew up in Moore, OK until moving to Nocona where he graduated in 1977. On Aug. 26, 1978 he married his high school sweetheart, Debbie Bratcher in Bowie.
He worked several years in the oilfield before he found his calling as a firefighter/paramedic. He began his career in Bowie and in 1997 he found his second home as a Southlake fireman until his retirement in January 2021. He also was an entrepreneur. He built multiple businesses throughout his lifetime, including Mike & Mom’s Grocery Store in Nocona and later ML Construction. He built his first log cabin in 1998 and continued building log cabins throughout North Central Texas for more than 15 years.
He is preceded in death by his mother, Betty Pope Leonard and his mother- and father-in-law.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Debbie Leonard, Bowie; sons, Kris Leonard, Bowie and Brandon Leonard, Ponder; two grandsons; father, Bill Leonard; sister, Elecia Chancellor; brothers, Gary Leonard and Mark Leonard; one brother-in-law; many extended family members and numerous friends.
Memorials can be made at Jacksboro National Bank to the Mike “Pappy” Leonard First Responder Scholarship account or to the American Cancer Society.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
December 10, 1943 – April 20, 2024
NOCONA – Shirley Lajuana Beggs, 80, died on April 20, 2024 in Wichita Falls.
A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. on May 1 at the First Baptist Church of Montague with Pastor Mickey Mills officiating.
She was born Dec. 10, 1943 in Graham to James Haskel Rushin and Mildred Pauline (Thomas) Rushin. She graduated from Graham High School then started a career in the title business and served for 35 years. She married Ted Beggs on Feb. 14, 1970 in Fort Worth. Together they owned and operated the Corner Store in Montague for several years, and in 1999 they opened Mine & Yours Feed Store in Bowie. She also kept herself busy operating Shirley Beggs Pet Grooming for many years as well as Linda Ross Book Keeping.
She is preceded in death by her parents and one granddaughter.
She is survived by her husband, Ted Beggs; children, Amanda Reeves, Nocona, Darrel Beggs, Hillsboro and Dale Beggs of Henrietta; nine grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
November 8, 1932 – April 18, 2024
BOWIE – Minnie Mae Duchaine, 91, passed away on April 18, 2024 after a brief illness.
A graveside service took place at 10 a.m. on April 23 at the Montague Cemetery with Chaplin Phillip Weitner officiating.
Minnie was born on Nov. 8, 1932 to Johnie and Ethel (Hise) Dalton in Montague County. She lived the majority of her life in Bowie. On Dec. 17, 1949 Minnie married Joseph G. Duchaine. The couple went on to have three children, Connie J. (Molly), Norma J. (Nunn) and David R. Duchaine. She had five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter, Connie; two brothers, Hershel and Johnny and her sister, Colleen LaMascus.
Please make a donation to St. Judes or Shriners Hospital in lieu of flowers.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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