OBITUARIES

Virgil Hugh Phemister

Published

2 years ago

04/15/2022

March 23, 1932 – April 10, 2022
NOCONA – Virgil Hugh Phemister, 90, passed from this life on April 10, 2022.
A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on April 14, at the Nocona Church of Christ with Austin Wright officiating, under the direction of Scott-Morris Funeral Home. The family will receive visitors at 1 p.m. at the church. After the funeral, a burial will follow at Montague Perpetual Care Cemetery.
Hugh was born March 23, 1932 in Haskell, TX to Virgil and Ida Phemister and was one of nine children. From 1953-1954, Hugh proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was deployed to the demilitarized zone, where he served as a tanker. In civilian life Hugh worked in the oil and gas industry, mostly as a pipeline operator for Lone Star Gas Co. He worked for Lone Star for 31 years until his retirement, then he enjoyed retirement for 31 years.
Hugh met Norma Lou Clapp and fell in love. They married June 1, 1974. They shared a deep, devoted love and from that day on, they were nearly inseparable. If Hugh wasn’t at work, he and Norma were almost always doing something together. Norma preceded Hugh in death on February 23, 2012.
Hugh loved to travel. He was proud to be able to say he had been to all of the world fairs and that he had set foot in all 50 states. He and Norma drove all over the country on vacations, including multiple trips to Branson, MO. As a thanks for his military service, Hugh was blessed to enjoy an Honor Flight, which included traveling to Washington D.C. to visit the Korean War memorial and various other sites.
Hugh loved his family. His siblings all had children and over the generations they grew to have a very large extended family. There were plenty of family members to love and Hugh loved them all. One of the greatest joys in Hugh’s life were the great family reunions they shared.
In his later years, Hugh moved in to Cherry Street village in Nocona. His friends there became a second family. Hugh was a faithful Christian all his life. He was very active member of the Nocona Church of Christ for several decades. Always the servant, Hugh was glad to serve his church wherever he was needed. He loved to sing and he led singing at church for many years. Over his lifetime Hugh served in every capacity, “except preaching, being an elder or a deacon.”
Hugh always arrived at precisely 9 a.m. Even when he did not have a specific role he was serving, he was committed to welcoming everyone who came in the door and making sure to shake every person’s hand. His friends at Cherry Street noted how every Sunday morning Hugh moved with purpose as he headed to church.
Anyone who know Hugh knows that he was a faithful, devoted Christian man. His life truly reflected the love of Jesus day-in and day-out. While Hugh will be greatly missed, he has gone to be with the Lord he loved all his life and to be reunited with his beloved Norma. Hugh lived out Philippians 1:21: To live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Hugh was preceded in death by his beloved wife; parents; brothers, Carlos, Marvin and Roy and sisters, Alma, Helen, Edith, Retith and Jenell.
He is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great great-nieces and great great-nephews.
For those who wish to make a donation in Hugh’s memory, please consider Cherokee Home for Children, which held a special place in Hugh’s heart, as well as the Nocona Church of Christ youth fund, the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association.
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212 E. Oak St. Nocona, TX 76255
940-825-3338 • www.scottmorrisfh.com

OBITUARIES

Billy James “Jimmy” Avery

Published

1 day ago

04/30/2024

bowienews

March 25, 1942 – April 26, 2024
ODESSA – Billy James “Jimmy” Avery, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend entered the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 26, 2024. He was 82 years old.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on May 2 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. on May 3 at the First Free Will Baptist Church in Bowie, with Pastor and family friend Doyle Wade officiating. Burial will follow at Salona Cemetery in Bowie. Pallbearers will be John Coffey, Tim Green, Mark Jackson, Chad McCracken, Larry Overstreet and Kurt Jackson. Honorary pallbearers include Joe McCracken, Louie Jackson, Gary Odle, Terrell Hill and Kevin Bryan.
Jimmy was born in Bowie to LR and Elsie (Johnson) Avery on March 25, 1942. He graduated from Bowie High School, where he played on the football team making all district and all area his senior year. He then went to play football at Cameron University.
On Aug. 3, 1963 Jimmy married his high school sweetheart, Judy Elizabeth Overstreet Avery. This began a love story that would last 61 years. Together they began a remarkable life and raised two beautiful girls, Kimberly Avery and Kelly Haring. He had an amazing career at Shell Oil where he retired after 30 years.
He was an avid hunter and fisher, loved his western movies and never missed a Texas Longhorn football game. His true passion in life though was his family and most knew him as their beloved “Poppa.” His family was his pride and joy and he would have done anything for them. Poppa had the natural ability to put a smile on anyone’s face and always leave you with a laugh. He knew how to have fun and be the life of the party. Jimmy Avery was a hard-working man whose life was dedicated to his loving family.
He is preceded in death by his parents, LR and Elsie (Johnson) Avery and sister, Colleen Hunt.
Jimmy is survived by his loving wife, Judy; his children, Kimberly Avery and Kelly Haring, all of Odessa; nephew, Lanny Hunt, Wichita Falls and cousins, Mike Avery, Longview, TX and Terry Tucker, Fort Worth. He was a proud Poppa to Ashley Bryan and husband Kevin, Fort Worth and one great-grandchild, Conner James Bryan, named after his beloved Poppa.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

Paid publication

OBITUARIES

Karen Kilcrease Dow

Published

1 day ago

04/30/2024

bowienews

October 16, 1947 – April 28, 2024
BOWIE – Karen Kilcrease Dow, 76, loving wife, mother, grandmother and dear friend to many, left this life on April 28, 2024. 
A visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. on May 1 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A graveside service will take place at 11 a.m. on May 2 at Elmwood Cemetary in Bowie with Kristi Roland Hand officiating. Honorary pallbearers are Chris Godwin, Taylor Hall, Mike Mayfield, Todd Airington, Brad Reese and Cody Romine, posthumously.   
Karen was born Oct. 16, 1947 in Henrietta to C.A. and Erma Ruth (Lowrie) Kilcrease. She graduated from Nocona High School in 1966 and later received her bachelor of arts degree from Sam Houston State University. After college she married her high school sweetheart, Dale Dow, on Dec. 19, 1969.
Karen and Dale moved to Bowie in 1970 where they, along with Dale’s brother, owned and operated Widlake Brothers Auto Supply. In the late 70s they ventured into the oil and gas business and started D&J Resources, Inc which they owned and operated until her death. She was an avid reader, football fan and enjoyed gardening and planting beautiful flowers each and every spring, as well as watching each of her five grandchildren play their favorite sport.   
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband of 41 years, Dale Dow; son-in-law, Cody Romine and her beloved dog, Luke.  
Karen will be sorely missed by her daughters, Brooke Dow and Courtney Riddle; five precious grandchildren, Zoe Romine and partner Isacc Barcenas, Baley Romine, Ava Romine, Parker Riddle and Finn Riddle; great-grandchild, Rowen Barcenas; brother, Kyle Kilcrease and wife Betty; sister, Kody Kilcrease and husband Bill Mullan; several nieces, nephews, cousins and two aunts.   
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

Paid publication

OBITUARIES

Lois Undean McLinsky

Published

1 day ago

04/30/2024

bowienews

November 5, 1926 – April 20, 2024
BOWIE – Lois Undean McLinsky, 97, died on April 20, 2024.
A funeral service was at 9:30 a.m. on April 30 at Sunset Church with David Hall as the officiant. Burial followed at 2 p.m. at Fairview Cemetery in Denison.
She was born on Nov. 5, 1926 to Arthur Trainer Caldwell and Seletha Van Hooser-Caldwell in Bonham, TX and married the love of her life, Frank Joseph McLinsky, on July 28, 1944 sharing 42 years together.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Frank McLinsky; son, Ray Frank McLinsky; daughter, Lynell Kay Shaw; brothers, Ray Neal, Ralph and Truman Caldwell and sister, Blanche Rowland.
She is survived by her son-in-law, Harry Shaw; brothers, Newman and Arthur Caldwell; six grandchildren; great and great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.