OBITUARIES
Brenda Kay Gilbert
June 24, 1961 – August 25, 2022
PAIGE, TX – Brenda Kay Gilbert, 61, passed away peacefully at her home on Aug. 25, 2022 surrounded by her family.
A memorial service will be at 3 p.m. on Sept. 17, at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Paint Creek.
Brenda was born on June 24, 1961 to Judy Hahn and Wendell McWilliams in Brownfield, TX. She was the oldest of four children. Brenda was a devoted wife, mother and friend. She was baptized as an adult on June 17, 1990 and confirmed on July 22, 1990 by the Rev. August Hanemann at St. Andrew Lutheran Church in Paint Creek. Her favorite Bible verses were John 3:16 and Psalm 23. In her younger years she enjoyed 4H, showing her horse and riding barrels. After she moved to Giddings, she rode motorcycles and hot rodded in her candy apple red truck.
She worked in several local restaurants and bars, some being Hills Store, Elm Creek Café and The Old Frontier. Brenda also owned and operated her own bar in Paige called Brenda’s. She worked in the cafeteria at Giddings Middle School then Giddings Elementary as well. Brenda loved the kids and treated each one like her own. She took pride in cooking the best food. Her kitchen was always spotless, well stocked and smelled good.
Her favorite times were spent with her daughter and son, watching her husband play music and time spent on the beach. The salt water was her happy place. She loved some rock ‘n’ roll and Bud Light, but her family was her world. She had several close friends who turned into family. Brenda was not scared to tell it how it is and could be hell on wheels, but she always loved with her whole heart.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Judy Hahn; father, Wendell McWilliams; Mema, Flora Dell Hahn; Granddad, Ira Hahn; parents-in-law, Mary and James Gilbert; two uncles, Bobby Beadles and Jerry Dave Hahn; parents-in-law, Sport and Jo Ann Holt and husband, James “Hubba” Holt.
Brenda is survived by her husband, Mike Gilbert, Paige; daughter, Kaitlynn and Jacob Phillips, Lexington; son, Michael and Sharei Gilbert, Bastrop; two sisters, Karen and Ronnie Gardenhire, O’Donnell and Debra and John Emmons, Henderson; brother, Brian McWilliams and Becky, Lubbock; three brothers-in-law, Robert and Monica Gilbert, Edinburg, David and Brenda Gilbert, Caldwell and Richard and Paula Holt, Giddings; sister-in-law, Susan and Rodney Sims, Giddings; aunt, Betty Beadles and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and close friends.
Memorials may be made to Down Home Ranch in Elgin.
Arrangements entrusted to Phillips & Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings.
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June 24, 1962 – May 18, 2025
BOWIE – Dean Allen Shaffer, 62, was escorted to the gates of heaven May 18, 2025 at 12:34 a.m. in the arms of his loving wife Christal Shaffer after complications of pneumonia
A celebration of life for Dean was held at 11 a.m. on May 31 at the First Baptist Church in Alvord followed by a meal for the family.
Dean was born June 24, 1962, in Lander, WY. While quiet and soft spoken, he had a mighty love for the Lord, his wife of 38 years and his family. Dean was an incredibly hard worker, but all who knew Dean also knew how generous he was. He enjoyed cooking outside, hosting get-togethers at their home, having a drink and listening to good music as well as spending time with his bees.
He is preceded in death by his mother-in-law, “Memom” Linda Stevens and loving sister-in-law, Terri Shaffer and sister-in-law, Linda Shaffer.
Dean is survived by his wife, Christal Shaffer; children, Justin Shaffer and wife Kayla, Miles Shaffer, and Ainsley Hernandez and husband Josue; his children in Christ, Chris Lovell, and Andrew Stevens and wife Sutton; grandchildren, Kayden Shaffer and fiancé Nathan Mac, Colton Shaffer and wife Payton, Jaid, Remi, Briggs, Watts, Hutch, Justice and Maverick; great-grandchild, Colter; his parents, James Oliver Shaffer and Alice Bethine; siblings, Randy Shaffer, Cheryl Shaffer and partner Mike Hoffman, Mike Shaffer and wife Kim, Cathey Tewes and husband Andy; numerous other nieces, nephews and family members.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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April 3, 1929 – May 20, 2025
BOWIE – Betty Sue Bynum, 96, passed away on May 20, 2025 in Nocona, TX.
Betty was born on April 3, 1929 in Thornton to Thomas Everett and Eva May Stiff Hardaway. She attended elementary school in Van Alstyne and attended high school in Calvert. She graduated from Teachers College High School and continued on to North Texas State Teacher’s College graduating with a bachelor of arts, library science degree at age 20. In 1977, she continued her education obtaining a master of education degree at University of North Texas.
While attending college, Betty met her future husband, Floyd Arthur Bynum. Betty wanted to work and live on her own for a year before getting married, so they had a long distance courtship while she taught school for a year in Canyon, Texas. They decided they were meant for each other and married on Aug. 5, 1950 in McKinney.
After starting their family in 1951, Betty and Floyd moved to Bowie where Floyd was industrial arts teacher at Bowie High School. Betty was a stay-at-home mom for few years. In 1960, she restarted her teaching career, teaching sixth grade for many years, eventually moving to high school where she was librarian until her retirement in 1988. She was a lifetime member of TSTA and a member of TLA.
Betty is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Alma Lou Perkins and husband, Floyd A. Bynum.
Betty is survived by her three daughters, Nancy Headley, (Douglas), Jean Richards (John) and Patricia Johnson (Craig), grandchildren, Heather Morse, Alicia Hutchison, Jennifer Holloman, Justin Richards, Steven Johnson and Brian Johnson; seven great grandchildren and two nieces, Suzanne Scott and Dianne Herr.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie, TX.
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May 19, 1976 – May 11, 2025
NOCONA – Pedro Leon Olvera, 48, died on May 11, 2025.
There was a rosary at 6 p.m. on May 18 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel in Nocona. A funeral service was at noon on May 19 at St. Jospeh’s Catholic Church in Nocona.
He was born on May 19, 1976 in Celya, Mexico Guanajuato to Juan Olvera and Felixa Leon. Olvera was a part of a big family and hard-worker all of his life. He worked mostly in agriculture as a rancher. He loved working on cars in his spare time, especially with his son. He married Blanca Torres in 1995 in Celya, Mexico Guanajuato.
He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Rosa and Juana Gomez; and nephew, Juan Gomez Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Blanca Olvera; Nocona; son, Pedro Jr. Olvera, Nocona; daughter, Mariana Hampton, Gainesville; sisters, Yolanda, Nocona and Margarita, Mexico; brothers, Juan, Luis, Santiago and Francisco, all of Mexico; a grandson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
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