OBITUARIES
Christi Lea St. John
June 9, 1960 – December 4, 2020
MONTAGUE – Christi Lea St. John passed peacefully from this life into the arms of her loving Heavenly Father on Dec. 4, 2020 in Nocona, TX.
A funeral service took place from 8-10 a.m. on Dec. 8 at the Bible Baptist Church of Bowie with Pastor Steve Summers officiating. Burial was at Salona Cemetery in the Salona community. The visitation was from 6-8 p.m. on Dec. 7 at the White Funeral Home in Bowie.
Pallbearers were Mark and Chad St. John, Larry Marshall, Gary Griswold, James Dick and Chad Summers. Honorary pallbearers were Herbert Reaves, Wade and Jases Brown, Tony Griswold and Darrell Bell.
Christi was born June 9, 1960 to Cecil Leon “Greek” Chokas and Frances Loraine Senn Chokas at the old Bowie Hospital in Bowie. On June 15, 1978 she married the love of her life, Randell St.John of Bowie. The couple raised their three children in the Bowie schools, which Christi loved. Christi never met a stranger and had an infectious laugh that rang through the school halls and every room she occupied. In the early years of their marriage, she was a homemaker and a member of the Bowie Lioness Club where she served faithfully beside her mother, Frances.
As years went by she subbed at the schools at whatever grade her children were in at the time. Bowie Jackrabbit blood ran deep in Christi and in the ’97-’98 school year she became a full-time Bowie Junior High aide, working in various positions. Many a student had her in, in-school suspension where she lovingly, but sternly directed them for more than 20 years. It was not uncommon for former students that are now grown to stop and talk to her wherever they ran into each other and filled her in on their lives and the impact that she had on them.
Christi was saved at Bible Baptist Church Nov. 14, 1993 and baptized there shortly after. She had been a member there since 1985 and taught Sunday school for many years. Children were her life.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Leon Chokas and Frances Chokas Cantrell Reaves, step-dad, Foy B. Cantrell, sister-in-law, Pat Hill, in-laws, Raymond and Cora St.John and all of her grandparents and aunts and uncles.
The family left to cherish her memory are husband, Randell St. John; daughter and son-in-law, Krystal and Larry Marshall; son and daughter-in-law Mark and Leigha St. John; son, Chad St. John and family; sister and brother-in-law, Janet and Gary Griswold and their family; brother, Gerald Chokas and his family; step-brother, Don Reaves and his family; step-dad, Herbert Reaves; grandchildren, Mason Marshall and Marleigh, Cora and Troy St.John; a host of Chokas and Senn cousins; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Dawayne and Lois St.John and family, brother-in-law, David St. John and family and Pat Hill’s family.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Bowie Junior High School Activity Fund or any fund benefiting the school.
Arrangements were entrusted to the White Funeral Home of Bowie.
Bowie, TX
(940) 872-9993
thewhitefamilyfuneralhome.com
November 20, 1938 – June 16, 2025
BOWIE – Roger Leon Swaim, 86, went to be with his Lord on June 16, 2025 at his home surrounded by his family.
A graveside service took place at 10 a.m. on June 19 at the Sunset Cemetery in Sunset.
Roger was born Nov. 20, 1938 to Jim and Eunice (Henton) Swaim in Sunset. He attended school in Alvord. After graduation, he joined the United States Army and spend 18 months in Germany. Roger married Glenda Hamilton in 1965. He worked as an oil field pumper. Roger was a charter member of Faith Baptist Church in Bowie. During his last years here on earth his greatest joy was watching his seven beloved great-grandchildren grow.
He is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Anita Clayton and husband Junior; brother, Nelson and wife Velda; sister-in-law, Janice Swaim; friend who was like a brother, Eldon Hunter and wife Margaret; and three nephews, Johnny, Bobbie and Gary Clayton.
Roger is survived by his wife Glenda; sons, Jason Swaim, and Jared Swaim and wife Michele; four grandchildren, Kaylynn Wood and husband Tanner, Madison Hardy and husband Gary, Dillon Swaim and Jadon Swaim; brother, Carroll Swaim; and seven great-grandchildren.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie, TX.
Paid publication
June 27, 1954 – June 22, 2025
NOCONA – Randy Bowles, 70, died on June 22, 2025 in Wichita Falls, TX.
There was a visitation from 6-7 p.m. on June 25 at Jerry Woods Chapel.
A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on June 26 at Abundant Life Church in Nocona, officiated by Pastor James Messer.
Interment will follow in Nocona Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Cody Messer, Craig Carminati, Dusty Bowles, Ty Bowles, Kirk Bowles and Brian Cagle. Honorary pallbearers will be Rusty Messer and Jeff Boutwell.
He was born on June 27, 1954 in Nocona to Rowland and Barbara Musick Bowles. Bowles worked for Montague County as a foreman for 36 years. Before that he worked at the Nocona Boot Company. He was a member of Abundant Life Church and Jean’s Men’s Bible Class in Nocona.
He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, James Carlton Bowles; sister, Barbara Jeanene Bowles Williams, and niece, Amanda Jeanene Williams.
He is survived by his wife, Robin Bowles, Nocona; children, Scott Bowles, Henrietta, Toby Bowles, Nocona, Brady Bowles, Iowa Park, Rowdy Graham, Lewisville, Angie Blackwood, Burleson, Candy Brasier, Burleson and Misty Buckingham, Cleburne; 15 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Jean’s Men’s Bible Class, c/o Scott Hamilton, 601 Main St., Nocona, TX 76255.
August 29, 1963 – June 5, 2025
NOCONA – Brenda Sue Durham Jones, 61, died on June 5, 2025 in Nocona, TX with her sisters and niece by her side.
A celebration of life will take place at 2 p.m. on June 29 at Terral First Baptist Church in Terral, OK with Pastor Mark Kunkel officiating.
She was born on Aug. 29, 1963 in Bowie to Curtis Don Durham and Emma Nell Reynolds.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Pete and Nell Durham; grandparents, Earl and Ruby Reynolds; and brother, Jerry Durham.
She is survived by her husband, Allan Gann, Nocona; children, Misty Torres, New Mexico, Lisa Jones, Gordonville, Chris Jones, Whitney and Tony Jones, Bowie; 11 grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; sisters, Beverly Jones, Bowie, Barbara Foster, Bowie, Betty Patton,Waco, Becky McCullar, Stoneburg and Bobbie Barnett, Stoneburg; brother, Curtis Durham Jr., Bowie and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
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