OBITUARIES

Mary Lee Vardas & Steve Vardas

Published

6 years ago

12/15/2020

April 5, 1942 – December 9, 2020
January 6, 1942 – December 12, 2020
SUNSET – Mary Lee Vardas, 78, Sunset, TX passed away Dec. 9, 2020 in Decatur and Steve Vardas, 78, Sunset passed away Dec. 12 in Decatur, both after contracting COVID-19.
A graveside service will take place at 2 p.m. on Dec. 19 at the Sunset Cemetery with health safety protocols of distancing and masks.
Mary was born April 5, 1942 to Vearl and Mary Chrismon in Comanche, OK. Steve was born Jan. 6, 1942 to James and Helen Vardas in Arlington. They graduated from L.D. Bell High School in 1960, where Steve was a standout football player and boxer and earned an invitation to play college ball. The couple married on Aug. 5, 1961 in Bedford.
They first met at age eight and had begun dating when they were 16 after he told her when he was 14 that he would marry her, and she told him he was crazy.
They farmed in the Bedford area, and in 1974 they moved to the Sunset area and purchased a farm in northern Wise County, where they still resided, growing a variety of truck crops such as greens, melons and tomatoes.
He also worked briefly as an oilfield truck driver and continued farming operations into 2020. They were longtime members of the Sunset Church of Christ. He has served as a church elder and she has taught Sunday school. He was a longtime former member of the Sunset Volunteer Fire Dept., serving several terms as chief. He was the fireman of the year in 1999 and named an honorary member in 2010.
Steve often had to pay a steep price for Mary Lee’s cakes at the annual fundraising auction. The Vardases were named farm family of the year by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram in 1991. Their tomato crop was featured on the CBS national news during the historic heatwave of 1980.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Dessie Demases and brothers Nick, Pete, Alex and Johnny Vardas.
Survivors include their daughters, Lesa Major and husband, Phil of Mineola and Crystal Horton and husband, Jonathon of Millsap; son, Kevin Vardas and wife, Melissa, Denton; grandchildren, Sam Major, Mineola, Brea, Jakob and Kallen Vardas, Denton and Isaac, Nathon and Silas Horton, Millsap. Mary Lee is survived by a brother, Kenny Chrismon and wife, Shelly, Lakeside City. Steve is survived by a brother, George Vardas and wife, Linda, McKinney. They also leave behind numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to the Sunset Volunteer Fire Dept., P.O. Box 243, Sunset, TX 76270 or the Sunset Church of Christ, P.O. Box 263, Sunset TX 76270.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication

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

OBITUARIES

Daniel Forrest Barrett

Published

3 days ago

08/20/2026

bowienews

December 27, 1965 – August 12, 2026
NOCONA – Daniel Forrest Barrett, 60, died on Aug. 12, 2026.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
He was born Dec. 27, 1965, in Spring Branch to James Harry Barrett and Opal Laverne Henderson. He played football at Northwestern and went on to graduate from Stephen F. Austin State University with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He worked mostly as a stock broker.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Chuck Barrett.
He is survived by his three children, Reagan, Dylan and Connor; two grandchildren; sister, Sherri Lynn Watson; two nieces; one nephew and siblings, Jesse, Rich and Cheryl.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.

OBITUARIES

David Duke

Published

3 days ago

08/20/2026

bowienews

July 24, 1960 – August 12, 2026
WICHITA FALLS – David Duke, 66, died on Aug. 12, 2026 in Wichita Falls, TX.
There was a visitation from 6 – 8 p.m. on Aug. 16 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service was at 10 a.m. on Aug. 17 at the Abundant Life Church officiated by Pastor James Messer.
Interment followed in Terral Cemetery. Pallbearers were Randy Harris, Randy Croxton, Wiley Vanover, Zak Weaver, Bradley Lawrence and Ross Atteberry. Honorary pallbearers were David Morrison and the Red River Dozer Crew.
He was born on July 24, 1960 in Bowie to Harvey and Marjorie Romine Duke. He was a dozer operator mainly for Red River Dozer. He grew up in Terral, OK where he graduated high school. He married Micheal Heathington on Nov. 26, 1994 in Spanish Fort.
He is preceded in death by his parents and one granddaughter.
He is survived by his wife, Micheal Duke; children, Leslie Halt, Kendra Grottie and Kyle Duke; sisters, Delores Weatherly and Sharon Westbrook; brothers, Ricky Duke and Ronnie Duke, and nine grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Eagle Point Cemetery Association.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.

OBITUARIES

Timothy Tompkins

Published

3 days ago

08/20/2026

bowienews

June 12, 1981 – August 2, 2026
DALLAS – Timothy Tompkins, 45, died on Aug. 2, 2026 in Dallas, TX.
There was a memorial service on at 10 a.m. Aug. 8 at Shepherd of the Hills Baptist Church with Pastor Dan Sparkman officiating. A private family interment will follow at a later date.
He was born on June 12, 1981 to Sam and Paula Tompkins in Wichita Falls. He was a driver, worked the oil industry for several years, wroked as a ranch manager and carpenter. He was a member of Valley View Baptist Church. He married Christy Marie Harris on Sept. 24, 2005 in Nocona.
He is survived by his wife, Christy Tompkins, Nocona; parents, Sam and Paula Tompkins, Spanish Fort; sister, Amanda York, Wichita Falls; children, Samantha Dawn Tompkins, Stephenville, Brock Wilson Tompkins, Frisco, Deagan Brodie Tompkins, Spanish Fort, Lillian Marie “Lili” Tompkins, Spanish Fort and three nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to Shepherd of the Hills Baptist Church, P.O. Box 330, Nocona.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.