February 13 ,1943 – June 7,2026
BOWIE – Gloria Gale Byork 83, passed away peacefully during the morning hours of June 7, 2026.
A visitation will take place from 4-6 p.m. on June 14 at the White Family Funeral Home located in Bowie.
A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on June 15 at the White Family Funeral Home.
The burial will follow at Cundiff Cemetery in Jack County.
Gloria was born in Big Spring on Feb. 13, 1943 to Donald and Nancy Haire.
Gloria worked numerous jobs during her lifetime. From being a waitress, a mechanical assembler of ALTEC Sound Products, working at Haggers Slacks Co., working for the City of Bowie, as a meter reader and finally found a career in law enforcement at the Montague County Sheriff Department. Gloria was a dedicated, respected employee and was always referred to as “Miss Gloria” by prisoners and staff alike. During her time at the Montague County Sheriff Department, she was a jail sergeant and was also commissioned as a reserve deputy. Gloria retired after 20 years of dedicated service. Gloria was a member of the Eastern Star, and a member of the Texas Department of Public Safety Officer Association Auxiliary.
It was while working at ALTEC Sound Products that she met John. Their friendship turned into true love.
Gloria and John got married in 1974, a marriage lasting more than 53 years and they loved each other very much.
Gloria and John raised three exceptional boys who grew up to be men, husbands and fathers. God gifted her with 18 grand/great grandchildren, nieces, nephews and still counting. Each child has their own different personality. Gloria was a caring, loving and fantastic mother and grandmother.
John and Gloria truly enjoyed traveling. They started on motorcycles, traveling to all 48 lower states at least twice, along with most of the Canadian Provinces. Then the cruises started. The two cruised through the Panama Canal, cruised to Alaska, most of the Caribbean Islands, Hawaii, England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Amsterdam and to the North Point of Norway. They even cruised to Japan.
A world cruise was planned, but it was not to be…. God called her for a more important journey, and she is with Him now.
Gloria is preceded in death by her parents, Donald and Nancy Haire, and eldest son, Curtis Lynn Patranella.
Gloria is survived in life by her husband, John Byork; her brother, Terry Haire and his wife Barbara; her sister, Donna and her husband Pete Karagines; her son, Craig Byork and wife, Tammy; her son, John Byork Jr. and wife Erin, along with many grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. Her loving spirit, beautiful blue eyes and smile will truly be missed.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

Paid publication

December 30, 1938 – June 4, 2026
NOCONA – Pauline Heathington, 87, died on June 4.
There was a visitation from 1 p.m. until service time on June 8 at Molsbee Chapel Church. A celebration of life followed at 3 p.m. with minister Weldon Wright officiating. Pallbearers were grandsons, Jesse, Garrett, Thomas, Eythan, Phillip, Cash and Joe Tom Hancock. Honorary pallbearers were granddaughters, Amber, Taylor, Alex, Shaden and Kaylee.
She was born on Dec. 30, 1938 in Nocona to John and Cora Gross Bellah. She was a Pentecostal and involved in Women of Wisdom group at Freedom Life Church in Bowie. She married Mike Heathington on Oct. 7, 1984.
She is preceded in death by her parents and seven siblings.
She is survived by her husband, Mike Heathington, Montague; children, Tammy Beckham, Nocona, Cindy Billings, Nocona and Laurie Klimkoski, Childressberg, AL; sisters, Nita Rodgers, Fort Worth and Pat Bella, Athens; 20 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Freedom of Life Church – WOW, 204 Theatre Dr., Bowie, TX 76230 or Molsbee Chapel Cemetery Assn.

January 9, 1933 – June 6, 2026
NOCONA – Helen Louise Murphey, 93, died on June 6.
Visitation will be at 10 a.m. on June 16 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home in Nocona. The funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. A graveside service will immediately follow in Nocona Cemetery.
She was born on Jan. 9, 1933 in Winters to Curtis and Ophelia Sledge. On Oct. 9, 1965 she married Billie Raye Murphey.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Curtis and Ophelia Sledge; all six siblings; first husband, Elmer Womack; husband, Billie Raye Murphey; daughter, Kelley Murphey and son, Raymond Murphey.
She is survived by her children, Greg Womack, West Columbia, Kathy Hardin, Gainesville, Karen Hutchings, Mullin, Vicki Jones, Valley View, Alan Murphey, Sanger and Christie McGuffin, Gene Autry, Oklahoma.  
  In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to The Carpenter Shop of Nocona.