OBITUARIES
Janet Tatyrek


June 13, 1960 – May 16, 2020
SAYRE – Janet Tatyrek was born June 13, 1960 in Sayre, OK to Charles Fred and Loretta Rae (Ellison) Tatyrek. She passed away May 16, 2020 at her home at the age of 59 years, 11 months and three days.
Memorial services take place at 10 a.m. on May 21 at Spring Creek Baptist Church officiated by Brother Matthew Riggs.
Janet grew up in the Delhi community and attended school at Delhi in the first and second grade and then started at Sayre in the third grade and continued until her graduation in 1978. She furthered her education at Talequah, OK at Northeastern State University and later at Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford, OK where she majored in Education. After receiving her bachelors degree she obtained her masters at west Texas A&M in December of 1997. She began her student teaching in Okarche and her first teaching job in Fredrick, OK. Janet later moved to Texas where she held teaching positions at Nacona, Mobeetie and Ft. Elliott. It was at Ft. Elliott where she spent the majority of her time serving as a principal. Janet retired in 2011 and moved to Bowie where she began substitute teaching at Montague and Bowie. Some of her happiest times were recently when she was able to teach her great nephew, Easton. Janet was a teacher by trade but spent many hours coaching basketball and kids that she saw ability. She also enjoyed fishing, camping, cooking and spending time with her family and friends.
She is preceded in death by her grandparents on both sides; father, Charles; nephews, Thomas Tatyrek, Charles Lea Tatyrek and Trevor Levi Tatyrek.
She is survived by her mother, Loretta Tatyrek, Sayre, OK; brother, Leon Tatyrek and wife, Kim, Sayre, OK; nephews, Shawn Tatyrek and wife, Carrie, Oklahoma City, OK and Cameron Carter, Sayre, OK; great nephews, Easton Tatyrek and Logan Pennington; great niece, Lori Pennington; special family, Stacy Gamblin and husband, James, Bowie, and their children, Abbi Gamblin, Cooper Gamblin, Jordan Pigg and Taylor Pigg and Sonya Holder and a host of other relatives and friends.
Arrangements are under the direction of Chris Whinery and the staff of Affordable Cremation Service-West.
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OBITUARIES
Dean Allen Shaffer

June 24, 1962 – May 18, 2025
BOWIE – Dean Allen Shaffer, 62, was escorted to the gates of heaven May 18, 2025 at 12:34 a.m. in the arms of his loving wife Christal Shaffer after complications of pneumonia
A celebration of life for Dean was held at 11 a.m. on May 31 at the First Baptist Church in Alvord followed by a meal for the family.
Dean was born June 24, 1962, in Lander, WY. While quiet and soft spoken, he had a mighty love for the Lord, his wife of 38 years and his family. Dean was an incredibly hard worker, but all who knew Dean also knew how generous he was. He enjoyed cooking outside, hosting get-togethers at their home, having a drink and listening to good music as well as spending time with his bees.
He is preceded in death by his mother-in-law, “Memom” Linda Stevens and loving sister-in-law, Terri Shaffer and sister-in-law, Linda Shaffer.
Dean is survived by his wife, Christal Shaffer; children, Justin Shaffer and wife Kayla, Miles Shaffer, and Ainsley Hernandez and husband Josue; his children in Christ, Chris Lovell, and Andrew Stevens and wife Sutton; grandchildren, Kayden Shaffer and fiancé Nathan Mac, Colton Shaffer and wife Payton, Jaid, Remi, Briggs, Watts, Hutch, Justice and Maverick; great-grandchild, Colter; his parents, James Oliver Shaffer and Alice Bethine; siblings, Randy Shaffer, Cheryl Shaffer and partner Mike Hoffman, Mike Shaffer and wife Kim, Cathey Tewes and husband Andy; numerous other nieces, nephews and family members.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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OBITUARIES
Betty Sue Bynum

April 3, 1929 – May 20, 2025
BOWIE – Betty Sue Bynum, 96, passed away on May 20, 2025 in Nocona, TX.
Betty was born on April 3, 1929 in Thornton to Thomas Everett and Eva May Stiff Hardaway. She attended elementary school in Van Alstyne and attended high school in Calvert. She graduated from Teachers College High School and continued on to North Texas State Teacher’s College graduating with a bachelor of arts, library science degree at age 20. In 1977, she continued her education obtaining a master of education degree at University of North Texas.
While attending college, Betty met her future husband, Floyd Arthur Bynum. Betty wanted to work and live on her own for a year before getting married, so they had a long distance courtship while she taught school for a year in Canyon, Texas. They decided they were meant for each other and married on Aug. 5, 1950 in McKinney.
After starting their family in 1951, Betty and Floyd moved to Bowie where Floyd was industrial arts teacher at Bowie High School. Betty was a stay-at-home mom for few years. In 1960, she restarted her teaching career, teaching sixth grade for many years, eventually moving to high school where she was librarian until her retirement in 1988. She was a lifetime member of TSTA and a member of TLA.
Betty is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Alma Lou Perkins and husband, Floyd A. Bynum.
Betty is survived by her three daughters, Nancy Headley, (Douglas), Jean Richards (John) and Patricia Johnson (Craig), grandchildren, Heather Morse, Alicia Hutchison, Jennifer Holloman, Justin Richards, Steven Johnson and Brian Johnson; seven great grandchildren and two nieces, Suzanne Scott and Dianne Herr.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie, TX.
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OBITUARIES
Pedro Leon Olvera

May 19, 1976 – May 11, 2025
NOCONA – Pedro Leon Olvera, 48, died on May 11, 2025.
There was a rosary at 6 p.m. on May 18 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel in Nocona. A funeral service was at noon on May 19 at St. Jospeh’s Catholic Church in Nocona.
He was born on May 19, 1976 in Celya, Mexico Guanajuato to Juan Olvera and Felixa Leon. Olvera was a part of a big family and hard-worker all of his life. He worked mostly in agriculture as a rancher. He loved working on cars in his spare time, especially with his son. He married Blanca Torres in 1995 in Celya, Mexico Guanajuato.
He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Rosa and Juana Gomez; and nephew, Juan Gomez Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Blanca Olvera; Nocona; son, Pedro Jr. Olvera, Nocona; daughter, Mariana Hampton, Gainesville; sisters, Yolanda, Nocona and Margarita, Mexico; brothers, Juan, Luis, Santiago and Francisco, all of Mexico; a grandson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
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