OBITUARIES

Verna Mae Brashear

Published

3 years ago

01/11/2022

March 29, 1935 – January 8, 2022
BOWIE – Verna Mae Brashear, 86, passed away, Jan. 8, 2022, in Fort Worth, TX.
A funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. on Jan. 14, at the First United Methodist Church in Bowie. Burial will follow at Salona Cemetery in Bowie.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 13, at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
Verna was born on March 29, 1935, to Albert Sidney Johnson and Cora Mae (Pillow) Johnson in Mount Vernon, TX. She always said she was lucky number seven of 10 children growing up in a big family with ties to history in Fort Worth and raised in Henrietta.
She graduated from Henrietta High School in 1953 where she later met Bobbie Brashear, Sr. at a rodeo dance, and they married 3 months later in Henrietta on Sept. 4, 1954. They moved to Houston while Bob attended Rice University where they begin their lives and 62-year history. They lived in Bowie for the rest of their lives raising three children, eight grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Verna Mae spent many years as a rancher’s wife raising her kids acting as a leader in parent teacher association, Cub Scouts and Camp Fire girls, as well as participating as a field census enumerator. Verna Mae was then inspired to go to college and became an educator. She graduated from Midwestern State University receiving a bachelor degree in education in 1972.
She had a lifelong passion both for teaching and learning and taught in the Bowie Independent School District for 28 years. She started her career teaching at South Ward spending most of her time in third grade and finishing as a sixth-grade math teacher. She always said both grades were so impressionable and loved both the creativity and working with numbers. She always advocated for furthering your education. Texas history was her favorite subject to teach.
She had many creative passions including quilting, crocheting, collecting and dealing in western art and cooking for her family. She also spent many years feeding the Brashear Brother ranch hands and crisscrossing the state as a basketball coach’s wife.
Verna Mae was involved in several quilting guilds. She had quilting blocks selected as part of fundraising efforts for 9/11 families as well as a block in the Texas Department of Agriculture’s “Common Threads of Texas” exhibition at the 1997 State Fair.
She was well known for making her signature chocolate chip cookies for coaches, teachers, athletes and students. She also had an annual tradition of crocheting custom ornaments for her students, grandkids and great-grandkid’s classes and storytime kids at the library.
The family was her life. Verna Mae’s pride in her family was extraordinary. She was very proud and loved watching her kids, grandkids and great-grandkids over the years participating in all their endeavors such as sports, band, rodeo, one-act play, and most importantly their academics.
She was very civic-minded and loved her community and giving back. An avid supporter of the Bowie education system and the community as a whole, she contributed to “The Bowie Knife Project” along with her husband, Bob as well as the Bowie Education Foundation and the Bowie Mission. Contributions to Rice University’s higher education scholarship program were also an important priority.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Bobbie Brashear, Sr.; parents, Albert Sidney and Cora Mae (Pillow) Johnson; and siblings, Calvin, Hollis, Bobby, Buddy, Victor, and Bill Johnson, Joann Bachman, Katherine Nunez; and grandson, Matthew Brashear.
Verna Mae Johnson is survived by her children Bobbie Brashear, Jr., Jan Browning and husband Kevin, and Lance Brashear, all of Bowie; grandchildren, Jennifer Glover and husband Lyal Glover, Northlake; Tiffany and Clay Egenbacher, Vashti; Brandon and Jana Brashear, Snyder; Casey and Chelsea Brashear, Burleson; Chance Browning, Washington D.C.; Julia Hilker, Wichita Falls; Mikaela Neubauer, Arlington; great-grandchildren, Caleb, Stryker, Maverick and Marli Brashear, Cy and Tess Egenbacher, Stormy Brashear, and Claire and Ava Frederiksen and brother, Sidney Johnson, Wichita Falls.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie, Texas.
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1418 Highway 59 N. Bowie, TX
(940) 872-9993 www.thewhitefamilyfuneralhome.com

OBITUARIES

Connie Stevens Hollowell

Published

3 days ago

12/23/2024

bowienews

August 11, 1945 – December 21, 2024
BOWIE – Connie Stevens Hollowell, 79, went to be with the Lord on Dec. 21, 2024.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 26 at the White Family Funeral Home. A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Dec. 27 at the First Baptist Church in Bellevue with Pastors Robert Slayton and Ethan Hollowell officiating. Burial will follow at Briar Creek Cemetery in Bowie.
Connie was born on Aug. 11, 1945 in San Diego, CA to Pal and Evelyn Stevens. Connie accepted Christ at a young age. She graduated from Bowie High School in 1964 where she was selected as Band Sweetheart.
She married Bill Hollowell in Bellevue on Aug. 25, 2012. She worked many years in education as a paraprofessional in both Bowie Independent School District and Bellevue ISD. Her greatest loves were her family and spending time in the mountains.
Connie is preceded in death by her parents, Pal and Evelyn Stevens.
She is survived by her husband, Bill Hollowell, Bowie; daughter, Michelle Vassar Cassetty and husband Bryon, Bellevue; daughter, Jody Vassar Carter and husband Chris, Haslet; daughter, Karen Coffman and husband Toby, Ravia, OK; daughter, Toni Corbin and husband David, Tishomingo, OK; son, Steven Hollowell and wife Dana, Kingston, OK; sister, Debbie Ashley and husband Mark, Stoneburg; brother, Pal Stevens, Jr. and wife Darlene, Bear Lake, PA; grandchildren, Christopher Tate, Jasmyne Tate, Brandt Cassetty, Devon Cassetty, Chace Corbin and wife Megan, Jarret Corbin, Dani Corbin, Quinten Corbin, Kristen Franks and husband Shane, Ethan Hollowell and wife Kortni, Shelby Hollowell and Faith Hollowell; great-grandchildren, Aniyah Bonner, Ember Bonner, Zayvien Garrett, Shae Franks and Reagan Franks and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials can be made to Wise Regional Health System Dialysis Center in Decatur or First Baptist Church of Bellevue.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

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OBITUARIES

Barbara Louise (David) Gill

Published

6 days ago

12/20/2024

bowienews

November 4, 1937 – December 12, 2024
KINGWOOD, TX – Barbara Louise (David) Gill, 87, died Dec. 12, 2024, in Houston.
A graveside service took place at noon on Dec. 20 at Vashti Cemetery with Kenneth Liggett as the officiant.
She was born on Nov. 4, 1937 as the only child of Keith and Otha Mae David. She graduated from Duncanville High School. She married William S. Gill on Dec. 23, 1955. Together they had three children and moved from Texas to New Jersey to California with her husband’s career. She later returned to college and majored in special education, teaching for Humble Independent School District.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her husband, William Gill; children, Keith Gill, David Gill and Mona Bostwick; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

OBITUARIES

Joan Winn

Published

1 week ago

12/17/2024

bowienews

November 10, 1934 – December 12, 2024
BOWIE – Joan Winn, 90, went home to be with the Lord on Dec. 12, 2024 in Wichita Falls.
The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 16 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A funeral service took place at 2 p.m. on Dec. 17 at Southside Baptist Church in Bowie, with Dr. Tony Rogers as the officiant. Burial followed at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie.
Joan was born on Nov. 10, 1934 in Bonita, TX, the youngest child of Robert L. and Euderah May (Sanders) Pierce, cherished as the baby sister in a family of six. She went to Nocona High School and, on Dec. 31, 1951, married the love of her life, Bobby Winn. Their marriage exemplified enduring love and partnership.
Joan worked as a teller and officer at First National Bank of Bowie for more than 30 years, where her kindness and love greatly impacted her colleagues and customers. In her free time, Joan flourished in her creativity. She enjoyed crafting, sewing and painting, gifting her creations to the ones she loved.
A follower of Christ, Joan was a Southside Baptist Church charter member, where she lived her belief in service to others. She loved people unconditionally and was intentional in all she did, embodying reliability and love. Joan’s life was a shining example of selflessness, compassion and steadfast dedication to her family, friends and community.
Joan Winn’s love for people and passion for serving others will forever be remembered by those fortunate enough to have known her. Her intentionality, creativity and unwavering presence made her a cornerstone of her family and community. She will be dearly missed but lovingly celebrated as a woman who truly lived a life of faith, love and purpose.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Euderah Pierce; husband, Bobby Winn; son, Ricky Winn; brothers, Clark and Wallace Pierce and her sisters, Bonnie Bruce, Nancy Robbins and Patricia Cross.
Joan is survived by her loving children, Becky Winn and David Winn and wife Kim; her adoring grandchildren, Miranda Tate and husband Josh and Derek Winn and wife Nichole and her treasured great-grandchildren, Bryce Tate, Corben Wolsey, Kaygan Winn, Ramzey, Brooks, Oaklee Tate, Boone and Dasher Winn. Joan’s legacy lives on through her family and all the lives she touched.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

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