OBITUARIES
Dr. Ivan (Terry) Sanders

Dr. Ivan (Terry) Sanders
March 10, 1924 – September 21, 2014
BOWIE – Dr. Ivan (Terry) Sanders, 90, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014.
A memorial service for Sanders was at 2 p.m. Sept. 23 at Newport Baptist Church in Newport with pastor Tommy Mayo officiating.
He was born in Kerens, TX on March 10, 1924 to Dr. G.H. and Bessie Coates Sanders, and throughout his life he was a hometown favorite.
At the age of three, he contracted polio which affected one of his legs and left him with a limp. He was, however, determined to overcome this obstacle and excel at sports and he did. By the time he graduated from Kerens High School, he had been named “Most Valuable Player” on the football team and was extended a scholarship to play football at Schreiner Military Academy in Kerrville.
While attending the academy, he also played violin in the orchestra and sang with a dance band. He transferred to Baylor University to pursue a pre-med degree and became a successful collegiate weight lifter. He was regarded as a very handsome young man and his Baylor yearbook refers to him as “Hercules!”
His education at Baylor was interrupted as a result of being called into the U.S. Army during a time when physicians were in great need. He was transferred to Cornell University in NY in order to expedite his education and later graduated from Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. He practiced medicine with his father in Kerens and served on staff at the Navarro County Memorial Hospital for several years prior to being called back into the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War where he served as a military physician in Goose Bay, Labrador (far North Canada; province of Newfoundland) at the Strategic Air Command for 18 months.
His wife, Jurahee Butler Sanders, and their three small children, Karen, Bruce and Kent remained in Kerens and the day of his return is indelibly marked in each of their memories. Son, Blake, was born later.
Dr. Sanders joined the staff at the Bowie Clinic with several other beloved Bowie physicians in 1960. He served as a family physician and surgeon for approximately 30 years prior to his retirement.
During that time, he also served as sports team physician, school board member, a director of Bowie National Bank and other civic endeavors. He also held top offices in the state medical board association. He was a gifted tenor soloist and was asked to sing at many weddings, funerals and other civic musical events. Throughout his life, he raised several breeds of horses and cow dogs and was regarded across the country as an authority in many areas pertaining to horses.
During his retirement years, he and his wife, Dorothy Jenkins Sanders, enjoyed organizing and performing at musical jam sessions where he played fiddle and guitar and sang. He began the Buffalo Spring Jam Session gatherings on Tuesday evenings which have become a popular weekly gathering for country musicians in that area.
He had accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior and was a member of the Newport Baptist Church.
In his last days, he took great joy in talking about the Lord and he was ready to be with Jesus. His family joins together in praising God for his salvation and look forward to spending eternity with him.
His son, Bruce, went to be with the Lord in May of 2013.
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Dorothy, who was his sweetheart and best friend; children, Karen Morris, Fort Worth, Kent Sanders, Burleson and Blake Sanders, Midland; brother, Dr. Richard Sanders, Kaufman; and a host of grandchildren, great grandchildren and lifetime friends who will greatly miss him.
Memorial donations may be made to Newport Baptist Church or the Young Fiddle Students Fund at the Randy Elmore Fiddle Camp.
Arrangements are entrusted to Shaw’s Funeral Home.
Paid publication
OBITUARIES
Wade Shelton

November 24, 1929 – April 28, 2025
NOCONA – Wade Shelton, 95, died on April 28, 2025 in Bowie.
A visitation was at 11 a.m. on May 3 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service followed at 2 p.m. at the gazebo at Molsbee Chapel Cemetery on May 5 officiated by Pastor Phillip Weitner.
He was born on Nov. 24, 1929 in Nocona to Walter Shelton and Mildred Kidwell Shelton. He was a hard-worker most of his life working mostly as an industrial machine mechanic and also managing the drive-in movie theater in Nocona. He was a member, deacon and sometimes ministered at Molsbee Chapel Church of the Brethren. He married Thelma Wright on Nov. 24, 1956 in Lubbock. She preceded him in death in 2012.
He is preceded in death by his wife; parents; brothers, Weldon Shelton and Paul Shelton; and sisters, Oleta and Bonnie Baggett.
He is survived by his children, Serina Thomas, Bowie, John Shelton, Sunset and Steve Holcomb, Nocona; four grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
OBITUARIES
Fern Hollaway Caswell

July 7, 1925 – April 28, 2025
BOWIE – Fern Hollaway Caswell passed on April 28, 2025 at the age of exactly 99 years, nine months and three weeks.
A graveside service took place at 11 a.m. on May 1 at Sunset Cemetery in Sunset with Doyle Wade officiating.
Fern was born at her parents’ home just outside of Sunset on July 7, 1925, she was the youngest child and only daughter of J. A. (Jim) Hollaway and Arah Sigler Hollaway. Growing up with three older brothers, she learned quite early on how to hold her own when faced with difficulties. She graduated from Sunset High School as the salutatorian of the Class of 1941. While in school, she was a talented and celebrated volleyball player on winning teams coached by J. I. (Speck) Caswell, the man who would eventually become her husband of 48 years.
Before her marriage, Fern worked at what is now known as the North Texas State Hospital, Wichita Falls Campus, first on the wards and eventually in the business office. After her marriage, the birth of the couple’s children, and the family’s move to Alvord in 1954, she devoted herself to rearing her daughters and working alongside her husband on the family ranch.
After the girls left home, she worked for the Lorch Company, managing their outlet stores in Decatur and Gainesville until the company closed. After her husband’s death, she began a long and varied career at DFW International Airport, driving carts and working in customs and security, all jobs which clearly suited her love of people watching. After getting up at 2 a.m. and driving to the airport three days a week for many years, she eventually retired at 89. Regardless of when and where she was working, she was always Granny and always available to the grandsons and great grandchildren she adored.
An excellent seamstress, Fern had a strong work ethic and a keen fashion sense, both of which she imparted to her daughters. An avid reader of biographies, she was also a lover of all animals, particularly Siamese cats. A longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Alvord, she also served as the District President of the Parent-Teachers Association of Texas.
Fern was predeceased by her husband; parents; three brothers, Berniece, Clay and Harold Hollaway; niece, Deanna Hollaway Hooper and great-niece, Tonya Davis Wallum.
She is survived by her daughters and their spouses, Lana Caswell-Garcia and H.S. (Bert) Garcia, Sherman and Karen Caswell Fowler and Donald Fowler, Chico; grandsons, Wes Fowler, and Kase Fowler and his wife Leslie Bain Fowler, all of Alvord; and great grandchildren, Rachae Fowler Richey and her husband Senior Airman Hunter Richey, Colorado Springs and Keegan Fowler, Alvord; nephews, Billy Dean Hollaway and his wife Sheri, North Little Rock, AR, Bernis Hollaway, Carr, CO and Bruce Hollaway, Buena Vista, AR; and several great and great-great-nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
OBITUARIES
Gary Leo Fergueson

November 11, 1944 – April 19, 2025
BELLEVUE – Gary Leo Fergueson, 80, died on April 19, 2025.
A graveside service will take place at 11 a.m. on April 24 at Vashti Cemetery with Michael Brannon and Jeff Brannon officiating.
He was born on Nov. 11, 1944 to Vera (Chappell) and Lewis Fergueson. He worked in the food and grocery industry at multiple store chains beginning in Fort Worth and ending in Bowie. He also worked as a rancher at his family farm in Vashti. Fergueson proudly served his country in the United States Army, he completed his basic training in San Fransico and was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Alta Fergueson Brannon.
He is survived by his nephew, Jeff Brannon; niece, Krista Brannon Blackrock; brother-in-law Michael Brannon and a very special friend of 60 years, Helen Ulbig.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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