OBITUARIES
Robbie Gene Whitecotton
February 2, 1932 – June 1, 2023
MONTAGUE – Robbie Gene Whitecotton passed away on June 1, 2023 in Montague at the age of 91.
The family will receive friends at 12:30 p.m. on June 8 with a funeral to follow at 1 p.m. in the Scott-Morris Funeral Home chapel.
Robbie was born in Fletcher, OK to Lloyd and Capitola Whitecotton on Feb. 2, 1932. He attended Stoneburg High School, where he graduated in 1950. He had the distinction of being the last person to walk across the stage of Stoneburg High School. He met his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Mae (McMillion), and they became lifelong sweethearts. They married Jan. 9, 1952 and remained so for 70 years until she passed away in May 2022.
Robbie proudly served in the United States Army from 1952-1954. Robbie worked in agriculture all his life. They had an orchard with apple and peach trees, and ran a fruit stand in Henrietta in the 1970s. People would often come from as far as Muenster to buy his apples.
The dynamic duo of Robbie and Dorothy ran Whitecotton Greenhouse, beginning with vegetables only in the 1970s. In the 1980s, they transitioned away from the fruit stand and focused full-time on the greenhouse, which now also offers beautiful blooms. They partnered with their son and daughter-in-law, David and Helen in 1988.
Mr. Whitecotton was a very dependable person. Customers and employees alike could attest to his honest, fair, focused, business mind. Robbie took joy in knowing so many people enjoyed his products, whether his apples or the things he grew in the nursery. He greatly enjoyed the natural creation, and growing plants from the earth was a spiritual experience.
Robbie’s love for creation took him on many trips to visit national parks, especially in the western United States. Robbie also loved dogs. He ran a dog kennel in his youth. He really loved his own dachshunds. In his later life, Robbie found joy in getting a new pickup every other year.
Robbie is preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Whitecotton; daughter, Janet Whitecotton; brother, Jerald Whitecotton and sister, Ophilia Simpson.
Robbie is survived by his son, Robert Whitecotton and Diana Smith; son, David Whitecotton and wife Helen; seven grandchildren, Lorinda Faye Timms, Thomas James Whitecotton, Sarah Anne Morrow, Michael Gene Whitecotton, Mark Christopher Whitecotton, Fayde Hunter Smith and Timothy James Whitecotton; his sister, Jackie Stillwell; 11 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
Donations may be made in Robbie’s name to Montague Volunteer Fire Department, 1000 Grand St. Montague, TX 76251.
An Online Guestbook is available at scottmorrisfh.com.
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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.
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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