OBITUARIES
John Rufus Fowler
July 17, 1933 – December 15, 2022
SUNSET – John Rufus Fowler, 89, died Dec. 15, 2022 in Decatur.
A funeral services was at 10 a.m. on Dec. 20 at the Old Country Church in Bowie, with the Rev. Glenn Waldon as the officiant. Burial followed at Smyrna Cemetery in Sunset.
Fowler was born July 17, 1933 in Broken Bow, OK to Rufus and Mary Fowler. On Dec. 24, 1953, he married Barbara Jaunell Blaylock in Fort Worth. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he worked for the City of Fort Worth for 28 years. He enjoyed fishing, wildlife and traveling. He was a member of the Sunset First United Methodist Church.
Fowler is preceded in death by his parents, Rufus Fowler and Mary Fowler-Overton; wife, Barbara Jaunell Fowler; sister, Lottie Thedford and one grandson.
He is survived by his children, Neal Fowler, Bowie, Gayla Johnson, Sunset, Johnny Fowler, Sunset, Randy Fowler, Sunset and Nicholas Parker, Sunset; sisters, Sue Zebick, Retha Toomer and Lois Coon; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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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