OBITUARIES

Thomas Gordon St. John

Published

5 years ago

11/13/2020

December 7, 1940 – November 11, 2020
Thomas Gordon St. John, 79, passed peacefully into the arms of his Heavenly Father on Nov. 11, 2020 surrounded by his family and friends.
A funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. on Nov. 14 at the First Baptist Church of Bowie with Pastor Tommy John Mayo and Pastor Jay Webb officiating. The burial will follow at Scrougy Cemetery in Sunset. The visitation will take place from 6-8 p.m. on Nov. 13 at White Family Funeral Home.
His sons-in-law and grandsons will serve as pallbearers: Tim Hamm, Rayce Cantwell, Jarred Schriber, Nick McCoola, Josh Simmons, and Daniel Bush. Honorary pallbearers will be grandsons Jason Hamm, Logan Hamm, Reece Morgan, Colby Schriber and Zach Gilmore.
Thomas was born in Decatur on Dec. 7, 1940 to William Alvin and Ethel Cordie (Wood) St. John. After graduating from Alvord High School in 1959, he spent several years in the oil field in and around Wise and Montague Counties before starting St. John Backhoe Service in 1974. His dedication toward his business lasted for nearly 50 years until his retirement in 2019.
For over 16 years, Thomas was a member of the Bowie Volunteer Fire Department after being voted in on Aug. 4, 1980. During this time, he served as a delegate to the West Texas Fireman’s and Fire Marshall’s Association and taught at the Texas Fireman’s Training School in Wichita Falls.
In 1984, Thomas was selected by his fellow firefighters as “Fireman of the Year.” A certified Jaws of Life operator, Thomas attend the Hurst Training School in New Braunfels and also attended the Texas Fireman’s Training School at Texas A&M University.
He attended Emergency Care Attendant classes and received his certification from the Texas Department of Health as an ECA on March 29, 1985.
Thomas was initiated to the Bowie Masonic Lodge No 578 AF&AM on Dec. 19, 1978. Being raised to Master Mason on Jan. 15, 1980, Thomas continued his personal ambition to become a 33rd degree Mason. During his membership, he held the Office of Senior Deacon and Junior Steward for the Bowie Lodge.
As a member of the First Baptist Church of Newport, he served faithfully as the director of music. He was well known in the community for “making music” and loved to gather with his friends and church family to pick the guitar and sing old gospel hymns. He was devoted to his family and was happiest playing with his grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his parents, wife, Greta Jones St. John, brothers, J.W. St. John, Wilburn St. John, Olin St. John, Donavan St. John, Bill St. John and sister, Vera St. John Crim.
His family left to cherish his memory are his wife of 21 years, Jan Broxson-St. John; daughters, Jackie Hamm and husband, Tim, Shelly Cantwell and husband, Rayce, JoBeth Schriber and husband, Jared and Amy McCoola and husband, Nick; grandchildren, Jennifer Bush and husband, Daniel, Josh Simmons and wife, KayLee, Jason Hamm and wife, Mindy, Logan Hamm and wife, Kenna, Reece Morgan and wife, Kyra, Colby Schriber, Zach Gilmore, Annalise Schriber, Bryce McCoola and Henlee McCoola; great-grand-children, Kelsey Bush, Karlee Bush, Bray Simmons, Brielle Simmons, Braden Hamm, Delaney Hamm, Brynleigh Hamm and Brock Hamm along with numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church of Newport, the kitchen – Meals on Wheels Wichita Falls, or Hospice of Wichita Falls.
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

1 week 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 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.
Paid publication

OBITUARIES

Betty Sue Bynum

Published

1 week 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

2 weeks 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.