OBITUARIES
Johnny “Preach” Rater
Johnny “Preach” Rater
June 25, 1943 – October 6, 2015
BUFFALO SPRINGS – Johnny “Preach” Rater, 72, passed away Oct. 6 at his home in Buffalo Springs, TX.
The family received friends from 7-8:30 p.m. Oct. 7 at the Davis Funeral Home.
A funeral service was at 10 a.m. Oct. 8 at the Free Will Baptist Church in Buffalo Springs with the Rev. Larry Cox of Bowie, officiating and the Rev. Billy Waller, assisting.
A Masonic graveside service was in the Buffalo Springs Cemetery under the direction of Davis Funeral Home.
Preach was born on June 25, 1943 in Newport to Johnnie and Bettie Rater. After attending Bellevue School he joined the 49th Division of the National Guard which was deployed during the Cuban Crisis.
Upon discharge from the service he married Stanley Roland on Sept. 24, 1963 in Fort Worth. They then moved to the Scaling Ranch located in southwestern Clay County where he was the ranch foreman for seven and a half years, he then moved to Buffalo Springs.
Later he was the owner and operator of Buffalo Construction and Rater Trucking. He and wife Stanley were also co-owners and operators of Huskey Hat Company and Tack. Preach was the master hatter, renovator and straw Boss. Preach’s life time passion was running cattle, sheep and goats until the very moment of his passing.
Preach was preceded in death by parents, Johnnie and Bettie Rater; one sister, Betty Jo Wetsel and brother-in-law, Marvin Wetsel.
Preach is survived by his wife of 51 years, Stanley Rater, Buffalo Springs; two daughters, Sondra Nored, Bowie, and Tina Eudy and husband David, Buffalo Springs; three sons, Tandy Rater and wife Gidget, Buffalo Springs, Kyle Rater and wife Kim, Buffalo Springsand Stacy Rater and wife Angela, Bowie; grandchildren, Kellee Russell, Andee Shae Nored, B.J. Nored and wife Meghan, Shalee Rater, Marlee Rater and fiancé Carl Scrogum, Alicia and Kyla Rater, Cacy, Marissa and Celsey Rater, Bailee and Yancy Heugatter, Bodee Eudy, Heather Cleveland and fiancé Tony, Joe and Kristie Cleveland, and Daniel and Chelsey Case; great-grandchildren, Carsyn Morrison, Grady and Gwenley Rater, Colby Bentley, Cooper Nored, Cole Cleveland, Harlei Hudson, Kelyn and Towns Lee Case, Cooper Cleveland; and special friends of the family, Dewayne Nored, Cody Morrison and Brandon Hoffman.
Memorials may be made to the Rock Church Billy Don Campbell Scholarship at 303 Rock Church Road, Bellevue, TX 76228 or the Bluegrove Masonic Lodge.
Thoughts and memories may be shared in the online guestbook at davisfuneralhome.net.
Paid publication
December 27, 1965 – August 12, 2026
NOCONA – Daniel Forrest Barrett, 60, died on Aug. 12, 2026.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
He was born Dec. 27, 1965, in Spring Branch to James Harry Barrett and Opal Laverne Henderson. He played football at Northwestern and went on to graduate from Stephen F. Austin State University with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He worked mostly as a stock broker.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Chuck Barrett.
He is survived by his three children, Reagan, Dylan and Connor; two grandchildren; sister, Sherri Lynn Watson; two nieces; one nephew and siblings, Jesse, Rich and Cheryl.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.
July 24, 1960 – August 12, 2026
WICHITA FALLS – David Duke, 66, died on Aug. 12, 2026 in Wichita Falls, TX.
There was a visitation from 6 – 8 p.m. on Aug. 16 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service was at 10 a.m. on Aug. 17 at the Abundant Life Church officiated by Pastor James Messer.
Interment followed in Terral Cemetery. Pallbearers were Randy Harris, Randy Croxton, Wiley Vanover, Zak Weaver, Bradley Lawrence and Ross Atteberry. Honorary pallbearers were David Morrison and the Red River Dozer Crew.
He was born on July 24, 1960 in Bowie to Harvey and Marjorie Romine Duke. He was a dozer operator mainly for Red River Dozer. He grew up in Terral, OK where he graduated high school. He married Micheal Heathington on Nov. 26, 1994 in Spanish Fort.
He is preceded in death by his parents and one granddaughter.
He is survived by his wife, Micheal Duke; children, Leslie Halt, Kendra Grottie and Kyle Duke; sisters, Delores Weatherly and Sharon Westbrook; brothers, Ricky Duke and Ronnie Duke, and nine grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Eagle Point Cemetery Association.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.
June 12, 1981 – August 2, 2026
DALLAS – Timothy Tompkins, 45, died on Aug. 2, 2026 in Dallas, TX.
There was a memorial service on at 10 a.m. Aug. 8 at Shepherd of the Hills Baptist Church with Pastor Dan Sparkman officiating. A private family interment will follow at a later date.
He was born on June 12, 1981 to Sam and Paula Tompkins in Wichita Falls. He was a driver, worked the oil industry for several years, wroked as a ranch manager and carpenter. He was a member of Valley View Baptist Church. He married Christy Marie Harris on Sept. 24, 2005 in Nocona.
He is survived by his wife, Christy Tompkins, Nocona; parents, Sam and Paula Tompkins, Spanish Fort; sister, Amanda York, Wichita Falls; children, Samantha Dawn Tompkins, Stephenville, Brock Wilson Tompkins, Frisco, Deagan Brodie Tompkins, Spanish Fort, Lillian Marie “Lili” Tompkins, Spanish Fort and three nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to Shepherd of the Hills Baptist Church, P.O. Box 330, Nocona.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.
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