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
March 25, 1942 – April 26, 2024
ODESSA – Billy James “Jimmy” Avery, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend entered the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 26, 2024. He was 82 years old.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on May 2 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. on May 3 at the First Free Will Baptist Church in Bowie, with Pastor and family friend Doyle Wade officiating. Burial will follow at Salona Cemetery in Bowie. Pallbearers will be John Coffey, Tim Green, Mark Jackson, Chad McCracken, Larry Overstreet and Kurt Jackson. Honorary pallbearers include Joe McCracken, Louie Jackson, Gary Odle, Terrell Hill and Kevin Bryan.
Jimmy was born in Bowie to LR and Elsie (Johnson) Avery on March 25, 1942. He graduated from Bowie High School, where he played on the football team making all district and all area his senior year. He then went to play football at Cameron University.
On Aug. 3, 1963 Jimmy married his high school sweetheart, Judy Elizabeth Overstreet Avery. This began a love story that would last 61 years. Together they began a remarkable life and raised two beautiful girls, Kimberly Avery and Kelly Haring. He had an amazing career at Shell Oil where he retired after 30 years.
He was an avid hunter and fisher, loved his western movies and never missed a Texas Longhorn football game. His true passion in life though was his family and most knew him as their beloved “Poppa.” His family was his pride and joy and he would have done anything for them. Poppa had the natural ability to put a smile on anyone’s face and always leave you with a laugh. He knew how to have fun and be the life of the party. Jimmy Avery was a hard-working man whose life was dedicated to his loving family.
He is preceded in death by his parents, LR and Elsie (Johnson) Avery and sister, Colleen Hunt.
Jimmy is survived by his loving wife, Judy; his children, Kimberly Avery and Kelly Haring, all of Odessa; nephew, Lanny Hunt, Wichita Falls and cousins, Mike Avery, Longview, TX and Terry Tucker, Fort Worth. He was a proud Poppa to Ashley Bryan and husband Kevin, Fort Worth and one great-grandchild, Conner James Bryan, named after his beloved Poppa.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
October 16, 1947 – April 28, 2024
BOWIE – Karen Kilcrease Dow, 76, loving wife, mother, grandmother and dear friend to many, left this life on April 28, 2024.
A visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on May 1 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
A graveside service will take place at 11 a.m. on May 2 at Elmwood Cemetary in Bowie with Kristi Roland Hand officiating. Honorary pallbearers are Chris Godwin, Taylor Hall, Mike Mayfield, Todd Airington, Brad Reese and Cody Romine, posthumously.
Karen was born Oct. 16, 1947 in Henrietta to C.A. and Erma Ruth (Lowrie) Kilcrease. She graduated from Nocona High School in 1966 and later received her bachelor of arts degree from Sam Houston State University. After college she married her high school sweetheart, Dale Dow, on Dec. 19, 1969.
Karen and Dale moved to Bowie in 1970 where they, along with Dale’s brother, owned and operated Widlake Brothers Auto Supply. In the late 70s they ventured into the oil and gas business and started D&J Resources, Inc which they owned and operated until her death. She was an avid reader, football fan and enjoyed gardening and planting beautiful flowers each and every spring, as well as watching each of her five grandchildren play their favorite sport.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 41 years, Dale Dow; son-in-law, Cody Romine and her beloved dog, Luke.
Karen will be sorely missed by her daughters, Brooke Dow and Courtney Riddle; five precious grandchildren, Zoe Romine and partner Isacc Barcenas, Baley Romine, Ava Romine, Parker Riddle and Finn Riddle; great-grandchild, Rowen Barcenas; brother, Kyle Kilcrease and wife Betty; sister, Kody Kilcrease and husband Bill Mullan; several nieces, nephews, cousins and two aunts.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
November 5, 1926 – April 20, 2024
BOWIE – Lois Undean McLinsky, 97, died on April 20, 2024.
A funeral service was at 9:30 a.m. on April 30 at Sunset Church with David Hall as the officiant. Burial followed at 2 p.m. at Fairview Cemetery in Denison.
She was born on Nov. 5, 1926 to Arthur Trainer Caldwell and Seletha Van Hooser-Caldwell in Bonham, TX and married the love of her life, Frank Joseph McLinsky, on July 28, 1944 sharing 42 years together.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Frank McLinsky; son, Ray Frank McLinsky; daughter, Lynell Kay Shaw; brothers, Ray Neal, Ralph and Truman Caldwell and sister, Blanche Rowland.
She is survived by her son-in-law, Harry Shaw; brothers, Newman and Arthur Caldwell; six grandchildren; great and great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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