OBITUARIES
Thomas “Clyde” McMurray II
Thomas “Clyde” McMurray II
December 7, 1938 – February 9, 2016
BOWIE – Thomas “Clyde” McMurray II, 77, passed away Feb. 9, 2016 in Bowie, TX.
The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 11 at The White Family Funeral Home.
A funeral service was at 11 a.m. Feb. 12 at the First United Methodist Church of Bowie. Burial followed at 2:30 p.m. at Oaklawn Cemetery in Decatur.
Clyde was born Dec. 7, 1938 in Fort Worth to Tom and Mattie Belle (Collins) McMurray. He married Janet Joyce Gough on July 22, 1961 in College Park, MD.
Clyde was a graduate of Decatur High School in 1957, Texas Christian University in 1962 and he received a masters of education from the University of North Texas in 1966.
He served his country in the 49th Armored Division of the National Guard and later served in the 49th Armored Division in the United States Army during the Berlin Crisis with the Russians in 1961.
Clyde was a member of the Wise County Veterans, Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of the Confederate Veterans.
He was active in the Texas Christian University Frog Club, Bowie Main Street, Chicken and Bread Days, Montague County Retired Teachers Association, Tarrant County Junior College Board and president of the Lions Club.
Clyde spent most of his career in education as a teacher/coach and principal/administrator in Alice, Killeen, Whitewright, Memphis, Dalhart and Bowie. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church. His greatest love was his children and grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Mattie McMurray; fraternal grandparents, Thomas Clyde and Charlie A. Thompson McMurray; maternal grandparents, Charles Collins and Vera Estelle Whatley Collins Brennan; and aunt, Mary Estelle Collins DeWolfe.
Clyde is survived by his wife, Janet McMurray, Bowie; son, Thomas Monroe McMurray and wife Charlotte, Corinth; daughter, Susan E. McMurray Semmelmann and husband Marc, Decatur; grandchildren, Madeleine, Emily-Anne and Marcus Semmelmann, Decatur, and Thomas Christian McMurray and Chloe Kemp, Corinth; brother, Pat McMurray, Irving; sister, Diane McMurray Scaling Pegg and husband Jim, Fort Worth; nephews, Bill Scaling and wife Beverly, Dallas, Tom Scaling and wife Leisha, Dallas, and Arthur Klaunberg, VA; and nieces, Bettie Scaling Bosworth and husband Bob, Fort Worth, Martha Scaling Creasy and husband Roland, Denver, CO, Mary Scaling Hubbard and husband John, Dallas, Brenda Klaunberg, and Irene Klaunberg Seifert and husband John, all of Maryland.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Bowie at P.O. Box 778, Bowie, TX 76230.
Arrangements were entrusted to The White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
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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 and sister-in-law, Linda 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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