OBITUARIES
David Allen Prater
October 7, 1957 – November 16, 2022
CASSVILLE, MO – David Allen Prater, 65, passed away on Nov. 16, 2022 at Mercy Hospital Cassville.
A private memorial service will take place at a later date.
David was born Oct. 7, 1957, in Attica, KS to James Allen and Opal Florene Hurst Prater. He attended Bowie High School and after graduation attended Sul Ross State University in Alpine, TX studying animal husbandry and veterinarian medicine. After college he worked for various ranches and oil fields. He later went to work for Bowie Industries as a welder. He also did underwater welding in Japan and was a member of the Texas Army National Guard.
David enjoyed traveling, being an outdoorsman, rodeoing, leather crafts and making his own boots, saddles and gifts for others. At the age of 14 he became the youngest professional rodeo clown, known as “Bandy.” He was proud to have been an Eagle Scout, a 32nd degree Mason of Moslah Temple Shrine in Fort Worth and a member of Abou Ben Adhem Shriners in Springfield, MO. Every year he would grow his hair long and donate it to Locks of Love in memory of his mother. He was a member of the Bible Baptist Church in Bowie.
He is preceded in death by his parents; wife and son.
He is survived by his sister, Mary Smith, Bowie.
Contributions may be made to the Scottish Rite Children’s Hospital, 2222 Welborn Street, Dallas, TX, 75219 or Cowboy’s Last Ride, c/o Lee Allen 403 West Wise Street, Bowie, TX 76230.
Arrangements are under the direction of Fohn Funeral Home in Cassville, MO.
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.
-
NEWS3 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS4 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS3 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS4 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS3 years agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
Show us something good9 years agoCountry music star children perform in Bowie
-
NEWS3 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
100th Birthday4 years agoLooking back at the 1958 Centennial edition of The Bowie News