OBITUARIES
Rick Beckham
Rick Beckham
December 25, 1969 – December 28, 2015
BOWIE – Rick Beckham, 46, passed away Dec. 28, 2015 in Bowie, TX.
The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 30 at The White Family Funeral Home.
A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Calvery Baptist Church of Bowie. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery.
Rick was born Dec. 25, 1969 in Nocona to Jessie and Betty (Cooper) Beckham. He graduated from Nocona High School in 1988.
Rick worked in sales until he began his true calling as a police officer. He graduated from Vernon Police Academy in 2000 and went to work for the Cooke County Sheriff’s Office and was a reserve policeman for Valley View Police Department.
Rick was a deputy for Clay County Sheriff’s Office and in 2004 went to work for the Bowie Police Department and worked his way up to lieutenant in the criminal investigation division. He married Cathy Hart on Aug. 2, 2003 in Henrietta.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Jessie and Betty Beckham; brother, Robert Beckham and his wife, Charolotte.
Rick is survived by his wife, Cathy Beckham, Bowie; son, Orrin Beckham and wife Jessica, Graham; grandchildren, Jaysen, Hayden, Tayde, Braxten, Ely, William, Makynzee, Weston, Noah, Alyssa and Sophee; brother, Ronnie Beckham and wife Tammy, Nocona; nieces, Jackie Schaumburg, Kathy Towery and Amber Lewis; and nephew, Jesse Beckham.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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OBITUARIES
Jimmie Dale Johnson
December 26, 1942 – August 28, 2026
BELLEVUE – Jimmie Dale Johnson, 83, died on Aug. 28, 2026 in Wichita Falls.
A celebration of life will take place at 11 a.m. on Sept. 26 at the First Baptist Church of Bellevue Life Center.
He was born Dec. 26, 1942 in Fort Worth to James Jeffrey and Nellie Mae (Frazier) Johnson. He worked in the oilfield and for Robert’s Radiator Shop in Bowie for many years.
He is preceded in death by his parents; partner, Arlene Denton; brothers, Bill Lewis and Bob Lewis; sisters, Betty Huber, Mary Goodner, and twin sisters, Jessie Mayo and Peggy Ferrin.
He is survived by his stepson and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
OBITUARIES
LaDonna Mae Howell
August 8, 1972 – September 5, 2026
BOWIE – LaDonna Mae Howell, 54, died on Sept. 5, 2026.
A funeral service took place at 11 a.m. on Sept. 10 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
She was born on Aug. 8, 1972. She was a graduate of Kinta High School in Kinta, OK where she graduated in 1990 as the valedictorian.
She continued her education at East Central University in Ada, OK earning her bachelor degree in accounting with honors in 1994. That same year, she became a certified public accountant.
She worked for Beverly Industries and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma before serving as vice president of business affairs at Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton. Later, she became the comptroller at North Central Texas College in Gainesville. She also served as the treasurer of the Bowie High School Mighty Marching
Maroon Band Boosters for many years.
She is survived by her son, Andrew Charles Howell, Longtown, OK; daughter, Amanda Rae Howell, Bowie; her children’s father, Michael Ray Howell, Saginaw and three grandchildren.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
OBITUARIES
Bobby (Jerry) Orrell
January 26, 2026 – September 4, 2026
NOCONA – Bobby (Jerry) Orrell, 87, died on Sept. 4, 2026.
A private family service will be held at a later date.
He born in Decatur on Jan. 26, 1939 to Elizabeth and Willie.
He was a United States Army veteran who served his country in Germany. He worked for ARCO National Supply in Gainesville as a supervisor. He worked for Bell Helicopter, Otis Elevator and General Dynamics. He also worked for Boeing as an engineer.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Elizabeth and Willie; sister, Norma Morby and brother, Bill (Buster) Orrell.
He is survived by his sons, Hannan and Caton; three grandchildren and brother, Leo Orrell.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.
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