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
Clifton Carl Robbins

September 16, 1938 – March 5, 2025
BOWIE- Clifton Carl Robbins, 86, passed away on March 5, 2025 in Crowley.
A graveside service was at 2 p.m. on March 8, at Eastside Cemetery in Bridgeport with Pastor Ronnie Lawson officiating.
Clifton Robbins was born on Sept. 16, 1938 to Elvin and Loise (Pipkin) Robbins, at home in the southern part of Montague County. He grew up and graduated from Bowie High School and worked as a flagman before marrying his sweetheart of 40 years, Lois Jeannine Byrd. They moved to Wichita Falls where he worked for Parker Food Stores and Piggly Wiggly’s ShopRite foods as a produce manager and later produce supervisor. An opportunity arose and he changed employers to Bolner’s Fiesta Products of San Antonio. The family moved to Dallas and then Grapevine, before retiring after 25 years with Bolner. He graciously took care of his wife, Jeannine, until her death in 1997.
Clifton was fortunate to reunite with his childhood friend, Carla Johnson, after returning to Bowie, and they were married in 2008. He stood by her side until her death in 2024.
Clifton is preceded in death by his parents, Elvin and Loise Robbins; first wife, Jeannine Robbins; second wife, Carla Robbins; grandparents, Lee and Dora Ada Pipkin; son-in-law, Rick Mewbourn; brother, Windol Robbins and sister-in-law, Lupe Robbins.
Clifton is survived by his children, Kent Robbins and wife Susan, Crowley, Lisa Mewbourn, Grapevine and Mark Robbins and wife Karen, Waco; grandchildren, Chrystine Wilder (Brett), Sarah Henderson (Kirk), Stephanie Renfro (Eric), Risa Oberbeck (DJ) and Emilye Robbins; great-grandchildren, Elise and William Henderson, Julia and Meredith Wilder, Ethan, Owen, Abigail, Benjamin and Charlotte Renfro and Easton and Rylan Oberbeck; sister, Phyllis Hudson and husband Elton; along with many nieces and nephews.
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OBITUARIES
Joseph “Joe” Burt Dial

April 27, 1936 – December 18, 2024
SAINT JO – Joseph “Joe” Burt Dial, 88, passed away on Dec. 18, 2024.
Joe was born in Kilgore on April 27, 1936 to parents, William Andrew Dial and Grace (Spaudling) Dial. Joe graduated high school from Texas Military Institute in San Antonio. He went on to the University of Texas in Austin, later getting his degree from the University of Maryland.
In his younger years he was a rancher in South Texas and was involoved in raising and promoting the Brahman breed in the United States and in other countries. Agriculture was a way of life for him in many ways.
In 1991 George H.W. Bush appointed Joe a commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. He was confirmed by the Senate. Joe chose a cornfield in South Texas to be the place where he was officially sworn into office. On April 17, 1993 Joe married Marilyn Scoptt Smith in Alexandria, VA.
When Joe’s term at C.F.T.C. ended, he accepted a fellowship at Harvard University at the Institute of Politics, Kennedy School of Government. Joe and Marilyn moved to Cambridge, MA for the spring semester.
In 2000, after completing his fellowship, Joe and Marilyn moved to Dallas. Joe became active in the former Texas ranger Association in honor of his father who was a Texas Ranger. In 2004, Joe and Marilyn moved to Saint Jo. Joe served well as around the county. He was a founding member of Leadership Montague County. After returning to Texas, Joe also began consulting work with other countries, assisting them in creating or upgrading regulatory agencies for commodity markets. Joe was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church. Heas the epitome of a “good and faithful servant.”
Joe is survived by his wife, Marilyn Dial and Walter Smith, Saint Jo; four children from a previous marriage, Joseph A. Dial, Catherine Dial Easly, Emily Dial Heard and Peggy Dial; five grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Memorials may be made to Easy Street Animal Shelter in Saint Jo or Cal Farley’s Boy’s Ranch in Amarillo.
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OBITUARIES
Edward Arnold Fenoglio Jr.

April 5, 1970 – March 4, 2025
NOCONA – Edward Arnold Fenoglio Jr.,54, died on March 4 in Montague County Texas.
There was a visitation from 4-5 p.m. March 8 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service was at 2 p.m. March 9 at Montague County Cowboy Church, Montague with Pastors Joe Caballero, Paul Coronado and Father Albert Francis officiating. Interment followed in Montague Catholic Cemetery.
He was born April 5, 1970, in Graham to Kathy Maisen Fenoglio and Edward Arnold Fenoglio Sr. He was raised in Montague County farming, ranching, and attending school in Montague and Nocona.
Throughout his early years, he earned many accolades, from All-State spitting champion at age 13 to Mr. NHS, Best Looking and Most Athletic at Nocona High School. He participated in FFA, football, track, basketball and baseball. Fenoglio was a state qualifier in debate and livestock judging, regional record holder in pole vault, and a state qualifier in 440/mile relay. Fenoglio was a member of the Nocona Masonic Lodge#753, Bowie Masonic Lodge#578, Royal Order of Jesters Ct. 85, Maskat Shrine, Scottish Rite and Knights of Columbus.
After high school, he attended Cooke County College, Midwestern State University and Southwestern Texas State University where he earned a bachelor of science in business administration in management and finance along with his long-term care administration degree. During the past 30 years, Fenoglio worked in long-term care, 20 years with Brookdale Living.
He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.
He is survived by his wife, Chris; sons, Benjamin Baker, Hunter and Chandler; two grandsons; sisters, Becky Fenoglio Hankamer and Jennifer Fenoglio Langer; two nephews and two nieces.
Memorials may be made to Wichita Maskat Shrined, Montague Independent School District or Nocona Independent School District.
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