OBITUARIES
Thelma Lee Stephens (King)
Thelma Lee Stephens (King)
March 8, 1938 – December 10, 2016
COLORADO – Thelma Lee Stephens (King), 78, succumbed to cancer in Mancos, CO.
Thelma was born March 8, 1938 in Nocona to Mabel Nichols (Milsap) and Cleburn King.
She attended Bowie High School and married fellow Jackrabbit David Stephens in 1959. Together, they raised their two children, Thomas and Rebecca, in Rochester, MN.
Thelma taught the importance of volunteerism to her children through example. She was one of the original volunteers for Rochester’s Meals on Wheels program, delivering nutritious meals to home bound seniors without the means of preparing their own meals, where she served the elderly for more than a decade.
During the 1980s Thelma enrolled in Winona State College where she earned her bachelor’s degree by graduating with honors. She continued to further her education by taking graduate courses in special education.
As an educator, Thelma positively influenced many students in Rochester, MN, Ignacio, CO, Dulce NM, and in Bowie. She particularly enjoyed working with children and teens facing significant challenges. After retirement, Thelma moved to Colorado to be close to her children and granddaughter.
She was preceded in death by mother Mabel Nichols (Milsap) and stepfather Glenn Nichols, Bowie; father, Cleburn King, Pampa and sister, Gayle Smith, Fort Worth.
Thelma is survived by her son, Thomas M. Stephens and wife Christa Zubieta, and granddaughter Sofia; daughter, Rebecca Levy and husband Derek; former spouse, David Stephens; and niece, Julie Smith and nephew, Scott Smith both of Fort Worth.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in the name of Thelma Stephens may be made to Shelter Hearts for the Bowie Animal Shelter, PO Box 1453, Bowie, TX 76230. Call 940-781-4440 if you would like to make non-monetary donations of items such as pet food or blankets. Donations to Shelter Hearts are tax-deductible.
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OBITUARIES
Norma Jeanne Fulcher
February 2, 1927 – November 21, 2025
CALIFORNIA – Norma Jeanne Fulcher, 98, passed away in November 2025, in Sherman Oaks, CA. She had been a resident of Los Angeles for 67 years.
Her final resting place will be in Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie.
Norma was born on Feb. 2, 1927 in Post Oak, TX, where her family owned a cattle ranch. After graduating from high school at 16, Norma attended Texas State College for Women in Denton where she was an honor student in journalism.
Advertising would be her career path, and it all began at Joske’s department store in San Antonio. From there she moved to Dallas where she worked as an advertising copywriter for Neiman Marcus. Her next step was Jantzen swimwear in Portland, OR and eventually to Los Angeles to work at Carson/Roberts, the largest advertising agency on the west coast at the time. Among her accounts were Max Factor and Mattel, and she wrote one of the first ads for the Barbie doll. Later in her career, she freelanced and worked at Art Center in Pasadena.
Norma liked to cook and host dinner parties for friends. She enjoyed art exhibits and attending musical performances in LA. After retirement, she was a docent for 25 years at the Huntington Library, art museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino.
Norma is survived by her four nieces.
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OBITUARIES
Izella Gray Boyd
August 4, 1944 – January 1, 2026
BOWIE – Izella Gray Boyd, 105, passed away Jan. 1, 2026.
A graveside service was at 11 a.m. Jan 5 in Oakwood Cemetery, Jacksboro.
Izella was born March 9, 1920 to Janie (Hensley) and John Elbert Gray in Jack County, TX. The sixth daughter of 12 children, Izella was the last surviving child of the Gray union. She married Oscar L. (Dutch) Boyd on Aug. 4, 1944.
Dutch and Izella raised their family in Bridgeport, where she was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bridgeport. Relocating to Bowie in the mid-90s, she became a member of the First Baptist Church of Bowie.
Izella was fiercely competitive and independent, and kept the 42 games at the Bowie Senior Citizens Center going strong for many years. Later years were spent at Independence Hall, where bingo was a staple.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband; son, Mike Boyd; son-in-law, Donald Morton and 11 siblings.
She is survived by daughter, Mary Jo Morton; two grandchildren Cindy (Ross) Hamilton and Rhonda (T.M.) Bigley; six great grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren.
The family of Izella would like to extend its heartfelt thanks to all the staff at Independence Hall and Solaris Hospice for the compassionate and excellent care provided to her.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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OBITUARIES
“Patsy” Ruth West Lyons
April 5, 1927 – December 28, 2025
BOWIE – “Patsy” Ruth West Lyons, 98, passed away Dec. 28, 2025 in Bowie.
The family received friends from 9 to 11 a.m., prior to the service on Jan. 2 at the White Family Funeral Home.
A funeral service was at 11 a.m. on Jan. 2 in the chapel of the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie. Burial followed at Hopewell Cemetery.
Patsy was born April 5, 1927, in Vernon to David Hamilton West and Lucille McGinty West. She married James Brock Lyons on Jan. 4, 1947 in Fort Worth. They celebrated 70 wonderful years together before his death in 2017.
She was a 1945 graduate and recently honored as the oldest living graduate of Bowie High School. Patsy was a 53-year member of Bowie Chapter #16 Order of The Eastern Star. She worked at G. C. Murphy Company in Fort Worth before retiring to Bowie where she worked for Fry Funeral Home for many years.
She is preceded in death by her parents, David and Lucille West; three brothers; one sister; husband, James Brock Lyons; son, James Brock Lyons Jr., and daughter -in-law, Beverly Lyons.
Patsy is survived by her daughter, Karen Self and husband Leroy, Bowie; 11 grandchildren, Lynette Fultz and husband Robert of Decatur, James Self and wife Brittany, Bowie, Stephanie Morgan and husband David, Mansfield, AR, April Robles and husband Mikey, Mansfield, AR, Brock Lyons III, Mansfield, AR, Kiemeche Corbin and husband Westin, Charleston, AR, Dakotha Lyons, Van Buren, AR, Lannie Self, Dallas, Terry Self and wife Vonda, Coppell, Cheri Brittain and husband Dusty, Mineola and Troy Self, Newark; 14 great-grandchildren; 10 great-great-grandchildren and one soon to arrive.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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