OBITUARIES

Karen Harris Martinez

Published

4 years ago

06/17/2022

September 9, 1957 – June 14, 2022
BOWIE – Karen Harris Martinez, 64, died on June 14, 2022.
A celebration of life be at 11 a.m. on June 21 at First United Methodist Church in Bowie. The Reverend Todd Harris will officiate.
Martinez was born on Sept. 9, 1957 in Dallas to Roy O. and Myrtle Harris. She grew up in El Paso where she graduated from W. H. Burgess High School. She represented the state as Miss Texas in the Miss America Pageant. She worked as a paralegal and certified mediator for international law firms in Dallas for 20 years and later returned to El Paso to work in the family printing business.
She graduated from Wesley Biblical Seminary with a master of divinity where she met the Rev. Steve Martinez. They married on Jan. 1, 2010. She felt the call to preach and pastored churches throughout the New Mexico and North Texas Conferences, most recently serving as pastor of Wesley United Methodist Church of Wichita Falls. She also worked as a hospice chaplain for Hospice of Wichita Falls.
She is preceeded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her husband, Steve Martinez, Bowie; brother, Ron Harris, El Paso; daughter, Kathryn Sikes, Dallas; stepson, first lieutenant Rafael Martinez, Winchester, NH and five grandsons.
Memorials may be made in her name to First United Methodist Church of Bowie or Hospice of Wichita Falls.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

OBITUARIES

Steven Douglas Drury

Published

7 days ago

07/15/2026

bowienews

February 9, 1968 – July 4, 2026
BOWIE – Steven Douglas Drury, 58 died on July 4, 2026.
A private celebration of life for the family was on July 10.
He was an entrepreneur and created his business Drill Rig Depot.
He is survived by his wife, Christina Drury; four children, Sydney, Ben, Bailey and Josie; six grandchildren; parents, Don and Lois Drury; and brothers, David, Danny and Christopher.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

OBITUARIES

John Wayne Shelton

Published

7 days ago

07/15/2026

bowienews

December 22, 1959 – July 1, 2026
SUNSET – John Wayne Shelton, 66, died on July 1, 2026.
There was a celebration of life for him from 5 – 7 p.m. on July 10 at Nocona Brewery.
He was born on Dec. 22, 1959 to Wade and Thelma Shelton in Nocona. He worked in the oilfield most of his life. He married Stephanie Burleson on Dec. 13, 1984 in Nocona.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his children, Jared Shelton, Bowie and Stacia Lorenz, Tennessee; sister, Serina Thomas, Bowie; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Memorial donations made to the American Heart Association, www.heart.org.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home of Nocona.

OBITUARIES

Weldon Ray Duff

Published

7 days ago

07/15/2026

bowienews

March 3, 1962 – July 6, 2026
WICHITA FALLS – Weldon Ray Duff, 64, died on July 6, 2026.
There was a visitation from 6 – 7 p.m. on July 10 at Jerry Woods Chapel in Nocona. A graveside service was at 10 a.m. on July 11 at Ringgold Cemetery with Richard Allen officiating. Pallbearers will be Mike Bonham, Jimmy Smith, Hatch Womack, Lynn Bugsy Allen, Blake Allen, Marlin Franklin, Joe Barnhill and Butch Matthews.
Duff was born on March 3, 1962 in Henrietta to Benjamin Franklin Duff Jr. and Myra Durham Duff. He worked as a machinist and was known as a “Jack-Of-All-Trades.”
Duff was a member of Bowie Masonic Lodge 578. He married Jowana Bussey on Aug. 8, 1980 in Ringgold.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Jowana Duff, Ringgold; daughter, Jessica Lierly, Collinsville; sister, Becky Case, Stoneburg; brother, Benjamin Franklin Duff III, Lonegrove, OK and three grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 440 Cypress Ave., Wichita Falls or Ringgold Cemetery Association, 1108 Hanson Rd., Ringgold.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home in Nocona.