OBITUARIES
Jimmy Louis Spinks
July 8, 1944 – July 17, 2022
BOWIE – Retired Army Major Jimmy Louis Spinks, 78, passed away July 17, 2022 at Wise Health System in Decatur.
Visitation will be from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. on July 26, at Lucas & Blessing Funeral Home in Burleson. A graveside service with military honors will follow at 11 a.m. at Burleson Memorial Cemetery.
Jimmy was born July 8, 1944 in Fort Worth to Louis W. and Josephine Richardson Spinks. He grew up in Fort Worth and graduated from Polytechnic High School in 1962. After high school he joined the U.S. Army and served for 20 years in both the reserve and active-duty forces. He served in military law enforcement, field artillery, recruiting and supply management, and was the recipient of multiple decorations, medals, badges and awards. He retired in 1986, achieving the rank of Major. While serving as an Army Reservist, he also served as a Fort Worth police officer in the Crime Scene Division during the 1970s.
Upon retiring as a Major in the U.S. Army, he owned and operated Roadrunner Hobbies in Lake Worth. During the 1990s, he was an insurance adjuster for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, working natural disasters nationwide. In 2007, he became the emergency manager for the City of Bowie and served the city until 2014. Jimmy enjoyed racing cars, flying his planes as a private pilot and rescuing animals.
He was preceded in death by his father, Louis W. Spinks.
Jimmy is survived by his mother, Josephine Spinks, Burleson; sons, Todd Spinks, Weatherford and Mark Spinks, Galveston and five grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in Jimmy’s name to a local no-kill animal shelter or rescue organization.
Arrangements entrusted to Lucas & Blessing Funeral Home of Burleson.
Paid publication
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.
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.
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.
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