OBITUARIES

Frances Loraine Senn Chokas Cantrell Reaves

Published

5 years ago

10/13/2020

February 11, 1935 – October 10, 2020
BOWIE – Frances Loraine Reaves, 85, passed peacefully from this life into the arms of her loving Heavenly Father on Oct. 10, 2020 at her home in Bowie, TX.
A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. on Oct. 14 at the First Baptist Church of Bowie with Pastor Mike Henson officiating. The burial will be at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie. Her grandsons and grandson-in-law will be serving as pallbearers with honorary pallbearers. They are Bert Harvill, Stephen Deweber, Robert Dyer, Jerry Clement, Darrell Bell, Lynn Gray and Mike Holbrook. The visitation was from 6-8 p.m. on Oct. 13 at the funeral home.
Frances was born Feb. 11, 1935 in Wichita Falls to John Wesley Senn, Sr. and Alpha Mae (Kerns) Senn. They moved to Bowie and the Lone Star community while she was in the first grade. Frances graduated fourth in her class at Bowie High School in 1952 and soon after graduation married Cecil Leon “Greek” Chokas of the Salona Community. Their marriage resulted in the births of their three children. During the 1950s and 1960s, she spent her time as a homemaker and used her sewing talents as a seamstress for the public. In 1971 she took a position as a nurse’s aide at the old Bellmire Convalescent Home and loved her job there.
In 1973 Frances married Foy B. Cantrell, Sr. and devoted her time to volunteering with many service organizations including the Bowie Lions Club, Bowie Lioness Club, Bowie Chamber of Commerce, Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Chamber of Commerce, Jim Bowie Days Association, community bake sales, varied concession stands and church functions. She was honored as Bowie’s Woman of the Year in 1982 for her tireless efforts to make the Bowie Centennial Celebration a huge success as she served as the headquarters representative for the festival; she served to bring the city charter to Bowie as a member of the Bowie Charter Commission; and volunteered for almost 50 years in every area of the Montague County elections process. In the 80s and 90s, she loved her work at The Montague County Shopper and Texas Pride Insurance; both places brought her much joy and many friends (many of her closest friends knew her as Frankie).
In 2000 she married Herbert Reaves and the two continued their volunteer efforts and added new interests by participating in the Buffalo Springs and Vashti Music Jamborees. She was an accomplished cook and avid reader until both gifts began to diminish as Alzheimer’s claimed her. She loved to read and study her Bible, she had a deep desire to serve others and her family was of utmost importance to her.
She was saved in 1951, was baptized in 1985 at Bible Baptist Church of Bowie and was a current member of the First Baptist Church of Bowie.
She was preceded in death by her parents, brother, J.W. Senn, Jr., sisters, Evelyn Boucher and Mildred Meyers, their husbands Leon Chokas and Foy B. Cantrell, Sr. and granddaughter, Dyvnn Chokas.
Surviving family members left to cherish her memory are her husband, Herbert Reaves; daughters, Janet Griswold and husband, Gary, Christi St.John and husband, Randell; sons, Gerald Chokas and Don Reaves; sisters-in-law, Mae Large and Louise Reaves; brothers-in-law, Bill and George Reaves; grandsons, Wade and Andrea Brown, Jases and Stacey Brown, Tony and Saundra Griswold, Mark and Leigha St.John, Chad St.John and Brice Reaves; granddaughters, Krystal and Larry Marshall, Mallory Grahl and Monica Henry; great-grandchildren, Alex, Megan, Noah, Dixie, Willie Brown, Mason Marshall, Marleigh, Cora, unborn baby, St.John, Finn Santiago, Kaila Griswold, Kaleb Bunch, Abby and Colt Reaves; nephews, Jim Senn, Eddie Meyers and Carl Boucher and one niece, Shelley Mills.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the First Baptist Church of Bowie Building Fund, Solaris Hospice for their excellent care, or the Alzheimer’s Association for research.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication

1418 Highway 59 N,
Bowie, TX
(940) 872-9993
thewhitefamilyfuneralhome.com

OBITUARIES

Dean Allen Shaffer

Published

7 hours ago

05/28/2025

bowienews

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.
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.
Paid publication

OBITUARIES

Betty Sue Bynum

Published

7 hours ago

05/28/2025

bowienews

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.
Paid publication

OBITUARIES

Pedro Leon Olvera

Published

6 days ago

05/22/2025

bowienews

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.