OBITUARIES

Gary Don Bogan

Published

3 years ago

12/21/2021

September 16, 1951 – December 4, 2021
BOWIE – Gary Don Bogan of Bowie, TX, lost his battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis on Dec. 4, 2021.
Gary was born on Sept. 16, 1951 to Joe Billy Bogan and Billie Pauline Pierce in Amarillo. He was the fourth and youngest child of the family having an older sister, Sharon and two older brothers, Bill and Shelby. As the youngest, he was often called “kid” by his siblings and was called that up until the day he died by his brother Shelby.
If one were to Google “youngest child personality traits” you would find a series of results that all tend to align as follows: Fun-loving, trustworthy, uncomplicated, outgoing, and attention-seeking. Those words accurately describe Gary. Growing up in Amarillo in the 1950s and 1960s those traits, especially outgoing and attention-seeking, served Gary well where he attended Paramount Terrace Elementary, Crockett Junior High and ultimately Tascosa High School where he graduated in 1970. A common thread in all of the Bogan family was athletics and Gary excelled at all but found his passion in baseball as a pitcher. In fact in high school, Gary threw back-to-back no-hitters and parlayed that success into a scholarship offer to Oklahoma State to play baseball.
Life had other plans for him than collegiate baseball and Gary married his first wife, Jackie Nichols and welcomed the birth of his first child, Jennifer Lynn Bogan, in 1971. Although detoured from baseball in college Gary worked to support his family and received a degree from Texas Tech University in 1975. Another one of those personality characteristics described above, he was a trustworthy Red Raider up until the day he died. In Texas Tech’s last 2021 football game Gary could be heard cheering on his Red Raiders from his bedroom as Tech was giving Baylor all that they could handle. Gary had a second daughter, Berkeley, who joined the family in 1976. Gary deeply loved his daughters and in his later years in life took much pleasure in being their father and especially a grandfather. He was called “Poppy” by his grandchildren and their friends becoming a grandfather to them as well.
Gary married his wife, Molly Cathleen Dixon in Dallas in 2010 but they were partners for many years before. While Gary was certainly “attention-seeking” it was his fun-loving personally that drew his grandkids and others to him. They were the ones “seeking his attention.” He was blessed to have five grandchildren and two step-grandchildren. He and Molly both were the first to volunteer to watch their grandkids and really, they did much more than watching them, they reveled in their grandkids during those encounters. Gary had a special relationship specifically with his fourth grandchild Kamden Bogan Thompson who preceded Gary in death in 2017. They are paling around together in Heaven at this moment.
After Molly’s death in 2011, Gary spent his final years in Bowie where he lived out an “uncomplicated” life retiring early playing golf daily, enjoying his close friends and views of Amon G Carter lake from his back patio. He was a fixture at Bowie’s Twisted Oak Golf club where he managed to record three hole-in-ones late in life.
Gary is preceded in death by his wife, Molly Bogan; parents, Joe and Billie Bogan; brother, Bill Bogan and sister, Sharon Collins.
Gary is survived by his older brother, Shelby Bogan and wife, Linda; daughters, Jennifer and husband, Rusty, Berkeley and husband, Justin; grandchildren, Kallie Thompson, Kade Thompson, Macey Samonte and Graham Samonte and countless nephews, nieces and cousins who all found him to be the “life of the party.” That party is still going on but has simply shifted to being a party in Heaven.
Gary didn’t choose ALS. It chose him, but what Gary chose to do is live with ALS these last few years and also live by his lifelong values of love, doing what he loved and living on his own accord. As such he battled the disease with dignity and independence, played golf until he could literally play no more and love family and friends up to the very end where he spent his last Thanksgiving holiday surrounded by his daughters and their family who returned the love to him. Hellen Keller once said that “What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose. For all that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” Gary was and will be forever deeply loved and will live on in those that called him “family” or “friend.” God bless Poppy.
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OBITUARIES

William Donald Cleveland

Published

2 days ago

11/22/2024

bowienews

October 4, 1948 – November 20, 2024
BOWIE – William Donald Cleveland was born Oct. 4, 1948 in Bowie to Donald Dean and Betty Isabella Cleveland. He died Nov. 20, 2024 at age 76 at his home in Bowie.
A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on Nov. 23 at First Baptist Church of Alvord with visitation at 9:30 a.m. Burial will be at Alvord Cemetery.
One of his treasures in life was growing up in Post Oak with his sister, Marsha, having the advantage of their Papaw Cleveland living with them and sharing his love, wisdom and love for the Lord. His mentor and pastor Tom Urrey, “Tinker” held a special place in his heart and life as well.
He graduated from Jacksboro High School in 1967. He then went to Howard Payne on a track scholarship, graduated from Midwestern University with a bachelor of arts in English, attended Southwestern Theological Seminary and later worked toward a masters degree in psychology at Midwestern University.
He began his career while attending Howard Payne as youth minister at First Baptist Llano, TX. He then became youth minister at Southwest Baptist Church in Jacksboro,while attending Seminary. Next, he was youth minister at Sunnyside Baptist in Wichita Falls, then on to First Baptist Childress as music and youth minister. He then established Cleveland Electric in Bowie while serving several churches part time.
In 1994, he began his ministry at First Baptist Alvord and served as pastor for 28 years. He was instrumental in overseeing the building of a new sanctuary in 2009 along with many members who did most of the work themselves. His one request was that the building have a cornerstone that had the name “Jesus” inscribed and built into the building. His wish was that no man take the glory except God. God used Bill to lead many people to Christ through his preaching, counseling, hospital visits, vacation bible schools, bible studies, youth mission trips and ski trips.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald and Betty Cleveland, Sara Bayard and Andrea Wood.
Bill is survived by his wife of 46 years, Paula; his “little” sister and “big” brother Marsha and Mike Robinson, Jacksboro; children, Shawn Cleveland and wife Stephanie, Plano; Shanna Cleveland, Boston, MA; grandchildren, Claire, Christopher and Cole Cleveland. Also, Barry and Rhonda Clark, Kent and Pam Wood; grandchildren, Melissa and Zeke Dorr, Macie and Cody Rollins, Kregg and Jordan Wood, Kyle and Lorraine Wood and great-grandchildren, Clark and Nicholas Dorr, Callie and Sadie Rollins, Hallie and Cooper Wood and Grayson Wood.
Memorial contributions should be made to the First Baptist Church Alvord building fund.
His request was to have the word Tetelestai on his headstone, meaning, “It is finished.”
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

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OBITUARIES

Gloria Kay Bell

Published

5 days ago

11/19/2024

bowienews

October 23, 1946 – November 15, 2024
Little River-Academy, TX – Gloria Kay Bell, 78, went home to be with the Lord on Nov. 15, 2024.
A funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. on Nov. 21 at the Saint Peter Lutheran Church in Bowie with the Rev. Lavern Janssen and the Rev. Mark DeYoung officiating. Burial will follow at Hopewell Cemetery in Stoneburg. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.
Gloria was born on Oct. 23, 1946 in Bowie to Russell and Linda (Roth) Johnson. She married the love of her life, Ronnie Bell on July 5, 1969 at St. Peter Lutheran Church, where she also was baptized and confirmed. Ronnie and Gloria shared 55 happy years together.
Gloria loved little children and her family. She loved to sing, participating in school choirs and also church choirs where she attended worship. She also loved to paint, selling several paintings and having her artwork displayed in galleries. People from all over are still enjoying her talent.
She retired from First Financial Bank of Abilene where she worked in several different departments which kept her on her toes, but she loved her job and working with the public.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
Gloria is survived by her husband, Ronnie Bell, Little River-Academy, TX; son, Brian Bell and wife Shanna, Wagoner, OK; daughter, Lori Johnson and husband Brandon, Winchester, KY; brother, Steven Johnson and wife Joslon, Nocona; sister, Doria Counts and husband James, Graham; grandchildren, Hailey Bell and Hayden Bell and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

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OBITUARIES

Rhonda Duncan Ford

Published

5 days ago

11/19/2024

bowienews

August 15, 1951 – November 15, 2024
NOCONA – Rhonda Duncan Ford, 73, died Nov. 15, 2024.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 20 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A graveside service will be at noon Nov. 21 at the Joy Cemetery, 8830 Old Joy Shannon Rd, Henrietta, TX 76365, with Bro. Rex Cobb officiating
She was born on Aug. 15, 1951, to J.M. and June Duncan in Amarillo. She attended Vernon Regional Junior College obtaining her nursing license as a licensed vocational nurse. She worked for many years at nursing homes around Bowie. In the 90’s she went to work for Dr. Len Dingler in Nocona and the Nocona General Hospital for a while. She married Bobby Ford on Aug. 10, 1979.
She is preceded in death by her parents, J.M Duncan and June Duncan; her husband of 41 years, Bobby Lee Ford; sister, Gail Schenk; daughter, Teresa Quillen nd newborn son, Floyd Alan Ford.
She is survived by children, Kenneth Ford, David Ford, Clarissa Fletcher and Amie Mankhambira; one son-in-law; 14 grandchildren; sisters, Jamie Baack, Mica Duncan Thomas and Sharla Gallion; one sister-in-law and many great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.