OBITUARIES
Mary Jo Watson Oliver
Mary Jo Watson Oliver
August 30, 1921 – March 12, 2016
GRAHAM – Mary Jo Watson Oliver, 94, went to be with her Heavenly Father on March 12, 2016.
A service will be at 2 p.m. March 17 at Eastside Church of Christ in Graham. A visitation reception will follow in the church foyer.
Jo Oliver was born on Aug. 30, 1921, in Bowie to parents, Mary Pauline Vickery Watson and Benjamin Ewing Watson. Jo was blessed with a wonderful youth, growing up in Bowie, the youngest of six children. Throughout her life she enjoyed the gifts of singing, playing the piano, theater and painting.
After high school, Jo attended Abilene Christian College. In 1943 she graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor of music.
While attending UT, she met the love of her life, pharmacy student Walter Wood Oliver. The couple married in 1943 at the Riverside Church in New York City. After Walter left for service in the Navy during World War II, Jo taught music in the public schools. After Walter returned from the service, the couple moved to Graham and founded Oliver Drug, downtown on the square.
Jo and Walter loved building a business in Graham as well as participating in many civic efforts to benefit the city. Jo’s unique interest was in the Medicare aspect of their business which led to an expansion of the business to Oliver Drug and Medical Supply.
Of great enjoyment to Jo and Walter was their house and recreation on Possum Kingdom Lake. PK was a cherished place of relaxation and an opportunity to entertain friends and family.
One of the highlights of Jo’s life was to be involved with the development of Shawnee Springs Park in 1988. The transformation of the area into a beautiful park won the “Take Pride in America: Thousand Points of Light” award from the President George H.W. Bush Administration in 1989. Jo and Walter were delighted to travel to the White House to accept this prestigious award on behalf of all those who worked to achieve the project.
In addition, Jo will be remembered for her love of beauty, daffodils and daylilies. She was a founder of Graham’s Christmas Stroll and the Daffodil Festival. In addition, Jo was a long time member of the Graham Garden Club, Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Club and her church home, the Eastside Church of Christ where she especially enjoyed Ladies’ Bible Class.
Later in life, Jo enjoyed the artistic abilities of her grandchildren which included singing, theater and music. She actually felt somewhat responsible for their talents.
Other civic involvement included chair of the Young County Historical Commission, the board of the Bowie Educational Fund, and president of the Resident’s Council, The Plaza at Edgemere, 2015-2016, Dallas, Texas.
Jo was preceded in death by her husband, Walter, in 1991. She is survived by her children, Gail Turner and husband Gerald Turner, and Walter Oliver III and wife Mackie Oliver. Grandchildren include Angela Turner Wilson, Jessica Turner Waugh and Eric Oliver. Great grandchildren include Luke and Wyatt Wilson and Abby, Lexie and Charlotte Waugh. Also included are many cherished nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be sent to Eastside Church of Christ in memory of Mary Jo Oliver or City of Graham, Shawnee Springs Project c/o of City Manager, 429 4th St. Graham, TX 76450.
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OBITUARIES
Phillip Ray Fielding
October 13, 1943 – September 18, 2026
NOCONA – Phillip Ray Fielding, 82, died on Sept. 18, 2026 at Nocona Hills.
There will be a private family service at a later date.
He was born on Oct. 13, 1943 in Dumas to Everett and Audrey Blythe Bailey.
He owned an air conditioning repair firm and was a contractor for most of his life.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his children, Laura Fielding, Nocona and Bonnie Gee, Juneau, AK; sisters, Annette “Susie” Bell, Watauga and Lela Nickell, Van Buren, AR; brother, Ben Bailey, Van Buren, AR; one step-son, and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
OBITUARIES
E.J. Woods Sr.
January 2, 1954 – September 16, 2026
MONTAGUE – E.J. Wood Sr., 72, passed away on Sept. 16, 2026.
The family has chosen cremation.
He was born on Jan. 2, 1954 in Wichita Falls to Lucy and Johnie Wood Sr.
E.J. was preceded in death by his parents, Johnie and Lucy Wood; brothers, Johnie and Billy Wood; sisters, Virginia Wood and Mable Beasley; great-grandson, Corey Pennington and niece, Tiffany Wood.
E.J. is survived by his sons, Scotty Wood and E.J. Wood, Montague; grandson, Brandt and wife Leslie Pennington; great-grandchildren Kash, Raeylynn and Karson Pennington; sisters, Beulah Wood, Inez and Larry Beasley, and Doria Atteberry; brothers, Charles Wood, and Homer and Linda Wood; brother-in-law, Gordon Beasley; and several nieces and nephews.
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OBITUARIES
Glenna Jean Wade
October 7, 1944 – September 22, 2026
BOWIE – Glenna Jean Wade, 81, went home to be with the Lord on Sept. 22, 2026.
A graveside service took place at 3 p.m. on Sept. 25 at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie.
Glenna was born in Bowie Oct. 7, 1944 to Burton Eugene and Edith Lee (Howard) Wade and was reared and cared for by her aunt and uncle, Evelyn and Richard Wade of Petrolia after the death of her mother when Glenna was nine years old.
Raised as an only child, Glenna grew up loved and doted on, quite unaware of any developmental challenges she may have had. She was strong and healthy with a heart the size of Texas, loving on anyone who would let her, never asking anything in return.
After the passing of her adoptive parents, Glenna went on to spend her 20+ remaining years under the watchful care of the wonderful staff at Bellmire Nursing Home/Advanced Rehabilitation and Healthcare in Bowie where her friendly, child-like spirit will be missed, perhaps, most of all.
The family is eternally grateful to all of Glenna’s “people” at both facilities, for the loving, tireless and compassionate care provided her over the years and for their kindness towards us this past week.
Glenna will be remembered, always, for her sweet, gentle spirit, her eternal optimism, her huge heart and her unabashed pride in her family and friends. She loved nothing more than to “introduce” someone she loved to someone else she thought might not yet have met them.
Glenna has moved to Heaven to what is the hope-filled start of another football season. And those of us who are fans of the sport will be thinking of her, no doubt, every time “her” Cowboys and Longhorns take the field.
She is preceded by that of her parents; adoptive parents; aunts and uncles and various cousins.
Glenna is survived by her cousins Patty Fain, Bowie and Linda Gibbons, Kaufman; a wide array of more distant relatives; friends; nurses; caregivers at Advanced and all she considered family or friend.
In lieu of flowers sent for services, the family has asked that flowers be gifted to someone you love; that “Glenna hugs” be given to all within reach; that caregivers and nurses be given the world of thanks they are due and that donations be made to your local adoption service or agency because every child deserves to grow up in a loving, safe and happy home.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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