OBITUARIES
Mary Lee Vardas & Steve Vardas
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.
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April 13, 1959 – September 29, 2026
BOWIE – Lee Roy Hargrove Jr., 67, died on Sept. 29, 2026.
A memorial service will take place at 10 a.m. on Oct. 10 at the First Free Will Baptist Church, 505 Strong St. in Bowie.
He was born on April 13, 1959.
He is preceded in death by his parents, LeeRoy Hargrove Sr. and Joyce Hargrove and brother, Charles.
He is survived by his wife, Elaine; children, Cheryl Burns, Jennifer Hargrove, and Joshua Hargove; six grandchildren; brothers, John Hargrove and George Hargrove; sisters, Linda Hargrove and Sandra Owens and many beloved cousins as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
March 27, 1938 – October 3, 2026
BOWIE – Mary Sue Walters Liggett, 88, died on Oct. 3, 2026.
A graveside service included a visitation at 10 a.m. followed by a memorial service at 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 6 at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie.
She was born on March 27, 1938 to Loyd Francis and Vera Lee Walters in Bells. On Feb. 3, 1971 she married the love of her life, Finnis Charles Liggett.
She graduated from Bells High School in 1957. She earned an associate degree from Cooke County College and later completed her bachelor of science degree from Texas A&M University-Commerce. She retired from McKinney Independent School District and she taught business administration for 30-plus years.
She served as a Sunday School teacher at First Baptist Church in Bells and taught Girls in Action.
She is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Betty Walters White; and brothers, Loyd Price Walters and Bennie Walters.
She is survived by her husband, Charles Liggett; five nieces; four nephews; many great-nieces and nephews; and many cherished friends.
Arrangements under the direction of White Family Funeral Home.
August 5, 1973 – September 29
NOCONA – Kari Ann Reid, 53, died on Sept. 29, 2026.
A visitation was from 6-7 p.m. on Oct. 1 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service was at 11 a.m. on Oct. 2 at Bethel Baptist Church with Pastor Kurt Simmons officiating. Interment followed in Nocona Cemetery. Pallbearers were Tanner Reid, Tyler Reid, Jeff Skinner, Gerald Ramsey, Jerry Henry, Clint Mahin, Garrett Combs, and Randy Ritchie.
Reid was born on Aug. 5, 1973 in Nocona to Tommy and Patsy Ann Huff Skinner. She worked at Skinner Tank Trucks doing record keeping and later being a co-owner.
She married the love of her life Harry Don Reid on Sept. 5, 1992 in Nocona.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her husband, Harry Don Reid, Nocona; sons, Tanner Reid, Nocona and Tyler Reid, Nocona; and a granddaughter.
Memorial donations may be made to The Carpenter’s Shop, 400 Boston, Nocona or Lucky Paws Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 595, Nocona.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home in Nocona.
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