OBITUARIES

Jacquelyn Lee “Jackie” Gardiner

Published

4 years ago

10/05/2021

November 30, 1948 – October 3, 2021
BOWIE – Jacquelyn Gardiner, 72, Bowie, TX moved on to her heavenly home on Oct. 3, 2021 in Decatur, TX. The last words she heard on this earth were her son Dillon saying, I love you Mom, as he held her in his arms. She is pain-free now, fully healthy and dancing on the streets of gold.
Jackie’s wishes were for her body to be donated to UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas for scientific research. Even in death, she wanted to try and help others, with hopes the medical community could learn more about the health problems she endured so that others may not have to.
A memorial service to celebrate the life of Jackie will take place at 11 a.m. on Oct. 8 in Bowie at Victory Church, 518 Hutchinson Street. Pastor John Little of Victory Church and Pastor Ricky Kerr of Missionary Baptist Church (St. Jo) will both be officiating.
Jackie was born in Somerville, NJ on Nov. 30, 1948, to Florence Mabel (Matthews) and Meridith Bailey Sawyer. She didn’t stay a Yankee long….as the family moved to Florida for years where Jackie fell in love with the beaches and the ocean. Jackie worked as a bartender, a waitress, a cook, a seamstress…many times working two to three jobs at a time to make ends meet.
Jackie always wanted a huge family, and while her blood family remained small, she made everyone she loved to feel like family, thus gaining her huge family after all. She loved family gatherings and would find most any reason to try and pull everyone together. She longed deeply for a big happy family. A huge animal lover all of her life, Jackie spent many years as a volunteer and foster home for various North Texas animal rescues. Her giving and nurturing personality made the world a better place just because she was here.
Jackie was a proud woman, strong, independent, hard-headed even at times, but the main focus of her pride and joy was her son Dillon and his wife Brenda. She loved them without question and bragged on both of them to anyone who would listen. Jackie had turned her life completely over to our Lord and Saviour many years ago and we have no doubt she is rejoicing with him now. She loved deeply and will be missed fiercely.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bobby; son, John Youngblood, Jr.; brothers, Leo Walters and Gregory Howard; sister-in-law, Linda Walters and grandson, Aubrey Foster.
Those left to mourn her loss on this earth are her son, Dillon Steen and wife, Brenda, Bowie; nephew, Michael Walters, Saint Jo; grandson, Travis Foster, Clarendon, AR; “adopted sister” and lifelong friend, Sue Brewer, Saint Jo; numerous cousins, friends, caregivers and loved ones….both two-legged and four-legged.
In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made in her memory to the animal charity of your choice, and any time you see the color purple or run on a sandy beach think of her, may her memory live forever in the waves.
John 14:30-31 “Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me. But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.”
Arrangements are entrusted to White Family Funeral Home and UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
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OBITUARIES

Dean Allen Shaffer

Published

4 days 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.
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OBITUARIES

Betty Sue Bynum

Published

4 days 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.
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OBITUARIES

Pedro Leon Olvera

Published

1 week 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.