OBITUARIES
Odis A. Davis

Odis A. Davis
January 10, 1927 – July 14, 2017
NOCONA – Odis A. Davis, 90, died on July 14 in Nocona.
The funeral was at 10 a.m. on July 15 at Bethel Baptist Church in Nocona. Family visitation took place from 6 to 7 p.m. on July 14 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel.
Burial followed at Nocona Cemetery with Brian Spivey officiating.
Davis was born Jan. 10, 1927, in Courtney, OK to the late Ben and Mattie (Norvell) Davis. He married Mary Lou Robinson on June 2, 1944, at Marietta.
Odis and Mary Lou are the parents of three children: Twin sons Ronnie and Donnie, and another son Jerry Dan. Ronnie lives in Nocona, as do Donnie with wife Carrie, and Jerry Dan with wife LaDonna. Odis and Marylou are the grandparents of six grandchildren: Shawn Davis, Jarret Davis, Branda McEwen, Erica Patton, Zachary Smith, and Kristyn Starnes. They also are proud great-grandparents of 16 great grandchildren: Henley and Samuel Davis, Jase, Bodie, and Ava Davis, Kaden, Mattie, Gabby, and John McEwen, Ayden, Corbyn, and Dani Patton, Skyler and Bayler Smith, and Ryker Starnes to whom he is survived by, along with his wife of 73 year MaryLou and sister Lawana Forsythe of Wilson, OK.
Odis was preceded in death by his parents Ben and Mattie, siblings Jim Davis, Edith Davis Watkins, Lillian Davis Houge, Stanford Davis, Eldon ‘Bud’ Davis and beloved daughter-in-law Mary Beckman Davis.
In their younger years, Odis and Marylou lived in Courtney, where they farmed cotton until boll weevils demolished their livelihood. They then took all the money they had and moved to San Jose, CA, where they worked in an onion processing plant.
Although they had some family living there in California, the couple was unhappy being so far from the majority of their family in southern Oklahoma. They stayed in California just long enough to earn enough money to move back to Oklahoma.
In 1950, they moved across the Red River from Courtney to Nocona, where Odis secured a job with Union Tank Company. He worked for this company until 1959.
Working for “Union Tank” meant good pay; but when the company decided to move its headquarters, Odis knew he would be transferred. He and Mary Lou were very satisfied living in Nocona and had no desire to leave. So in 1959, they sold their new home and car and invested the money in their own business, LP. Gas Company, which is still in operation today under the management of their youngest son Jerry Dan and grandson Jarret.
Odis and Mary Lou also bought and operated another business, Nocona Hot Oil Service, which they sold in 1987. Throughout the years, Odis has always been a staunch backer of his children’s endeavors, many community activities, functions of the Bethel Baptist Church, and Odis was a Mason for over 50 years.
Odis semi-retired in the early 1990s to enjoy life in Nocona, where he kept busy with cattle, baling hay, oil properties and restoring tractors. Retirement was really never a word he understood, but the closest he found himself to that was in 2007 when he sold out his oil property, cattle, and hay implements at the age of 80.
After that day until his death Odis would be found daily at 4 a.m. at L.P. Gas Co from force of habit after 58 years opening the gates and front door to welcome his customers. When asked by Odis how to tell his legacy and life story he was known to say “My funeral has already been preached and story written by the life I have lived here in Nocona, and the things I have always stood for.”
In lieu of flowers Odis requested donation be made to the Mary Beckman Downtown Park Fund that is located at Wells Fargo Bank in Nocona or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Paid publication
OBITUARIES
Wade Shelton

November 24, 1929 – April 28, 2025
NOCONA – Wade Shelton, 95, died on April 28, 2025 in Bowie.
A visitation was at 11 a.m. on May 3 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service followed at 2 p.m. at the gazebo at Molsbee Chapel Cemetery on May 5 officiated by Pastor Phillip Weitner.
He was born on Nov. 24, 1929 in Nocona to Walter Shelton and Mildred Kidwell Shelton. He was a hard-worker most of his life working mostly as an industrial machine mechanic and also managing the drive-in movie theater in Nocona. He was a member, deacon and sometimes ministered at Molsbee Chapel Church of the Brethren. He married Thelma Wright on Nov. 24, 1956 in Lubbock. She preceded him in death in 2012.
He is preceded in death by his wife; parents; brothers, Weldon Shelton and Paul Shelton; and sisters, Oleta and Bonnie Baggett.
He is survived by his children, Serina Thomas, Bowie, John Shelton, Sunset and Steve Holcomb, Nocona; four grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
OBITUARIES
Fern Hollaway Caswell

July 7, 1925 – April 28, 2025
BOWIE – Fern Hollaway Caswell passed on April 28, 2025 at the age of exactly 99 years, nine months and three weeks.
A graveside service took place at 11 a.m. on May 1 at Sunset Cemetery in Sunset with Doyle Wade officiating.
Fern was born at her parents’ home just outside of Sunset on July 7, 1925, she was the youngest child and only daughter of J. A. (Jim) Hollaway and Arah Sigler Hollaway. Growing up with three older brothers, she learned quite early on how to hold her own when faced with difficulties. She graduated from Sunset High School as the salutatorian of the Class of 1941. While in school, she was a talented and celebrated volleyball player on winning teams coached by J. I. (Speck) Caswell, the man who would eventually become her husband of 48 years.
Before her marriage, Fern worked at what is now known as the North Texas State Hospital, Wichita Falls Campus, first on the wards and eventually in the business office. After her marriage, the birth of the couple’s children, and the family’s move to Alvord in 1954, she devoted herself to rearing her daughters and working alongside her husband on the family ranch.
After the girls left home, she worked for the Lorch Company, managing their outlet stores in Decatur and Gainesville until the company closed. After her husband’s death, she began a long and varied career at DFW International Airport, driving carts and working in customs and security, all jobs which clearly suited her love of people watching. After getting up at 2 a.m. and driving to the airport three days a week for many years, she eventually retired at 89. Regardless of when and where she was working, she was always Granny and always available to the grandsons and great grandchildren she adored.
An excellent seamstress, Fern had a strong work ethic and a keen fashion sense, both of which she imparted to her daughters. An avid reader of biographies, she was also a lover of all animals, particularly Siamese cats. A longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Alvord, she also served as the District President of the Parent-Teachers Association of Texas.
Fern was predeceased by her husband; parents; three brothers, Berniece, Clay and Harold Hollaway; niece, Deanna Hollaway Hooper and great-niece, Tonya Davis Wallum.
She is survived by her daughters and their spouses, Lana Caswell-Garcia and H.S. (Bert) Garcia, Sherman and Karen Caswell Fowler and Donald Fowler, Chico; grandsons, Wes Fowler, and Kase Fowler and his wife Leslie Bain Fowler, all of Alvord; and great grandchildren, Rachae Fowler Richey and her husband Senior Airman Hunter Richey, Colorado Springs and Keegan Fowler, Alvord; nephews, Billy Dean Hollaway and his wife Sheri, North Little Rock, AR, Bernis Hollaway, Carr, CO and Bruce Hollaway, Buena Vista, AR; and several great and great-great-nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
OBITUARIES
Gary Leo Fergueson

November 11, 1944 – April 19, 2025
BELLEVUE – Gary Leo Fergueson, 80, died on April 19, 2025.
A graveside service will take place at 11 a.m. on April 24 at Vashti Cemetery with Michael Brannon and Jeff Brannon officiating.
He was born on Nov. 11, 1944 to Vera (Chappell) and Lewis Fergueson. He worked in the food and grocery industry at multiple store chains beginning in Fort Worth and ending in Bowie. He also worked as a rancher at his family farm in Vashti. Fergueson proudly served his country in the United States Army, he completed his basic training in San Fransico and was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Alta Fergueson Brannon.
He is survived by his nephew, Jeff Brannon; niece, Krista Brannon Blackrock; brother-in-law Michael Brannon and a very special friend of 60 years, Helen Ulbig.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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