OBITUARIES

Billy Ray Beasley

Published

2 years ago

04/04/2023

March 31, 1937 – April 1, 2023
BOWIE – Billy Ray Beasley, 86, passed away quietly in his sleep on April 1, 2023.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on April 6 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A funeral service will be at 11 a.m. on April 7 at the White Family Funeral Home. Interment will be at Salona Cemetery, beside his beloved wife, Alice, resting in peace.
Bill was born the eldest of five children to Sybil Brumfield and A. B. “Blackie” Beasley in Punkin Center, TX on March 31, 1937. He worked in the automotive repair business with his dad, and Wichita Construction before transitioning into the oilfield. He worked at A1 Well Service and Energy Service, where he retired after 20-plus years.
Bill grew up in Bowie and joined the Army Reserves and was Honorably Discharged in 1962. He married Lila Beth King in 1957. They had their first child, Billy Don, in 1960 and two years later they welcomed their second child, Bobby Dale into the world. In 1966 they welcomed his baby girl, Kathryn Dawn. He worked hard to make sure they were taken care of and felt loved every day.
Bill later married Alice McGee on Nov. 26, 1984, thus creating a blended family with the addition of her daughters, Tammie and Pamela, and young son, Rodney.
Bill wore many titles: husband, dad, brother, son, friend, and, perhaps his most well-known title, Jokester. He could tell countless jokes and have you laughing for hours. Bill used his humor to successfully navigate daily life, bringing laughter to family and friends alike. Bill was a gentle soul and would help anyone in need. He always had a smile on his face and a joke on the tip of his tongue.
Bill loved living at Amon Carter Lake where he and Alice would fish in their boat for hours. He also loved tinkering with lawnmowers, tractors, motorcycles and anything else with a motor. He loved family get togethers, dining out with his family and just enjoying retirement.
Papa Bill enjoyed spending his weekends playing WaHoo and card games with the grandkids. He would take the grandkids for a boat ride and show them how to bait a line and throw a cast.
He was preceded in death by his mom, Sybil; his dad, Blackie; sister, Peggy Posey; beloved wife of 38 years, Alice and precious daughter, Kathy.
He is survived by three sons, Billy Don and wife Janice, Paul’s Valley, OK, Bobby Beasley and wife Kala Beasley, Chaska, MN and Rodney McGee, Bowie; two daughters, Tammie Avara and husband Rob, Bowie and Pamela Adams and husband Randy, Shawnee, OK; his brother, Larry Beasley; two sisters, Shirley Haney and Belinda McHaffey and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, nephews, nieces and cousins.

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OBITUARIES

Dean Allen Shaffer

Published

2 weeks ago

05/28/2025

bowienews

June 24, 1962 – May 18, 2025
BOWIE – Dean Allen Shaffer, 62, was escorted to the gates of heaven May 18, 2025 at 12:34 a.m. in the arms of his loving wife Christal Shaffer after complications of pneumonia
A celebration of life for Dean was held at 11 a.m. on May 31 at the First Baptist Church in Alvord followed by a meal for the family.
Dean was born June 24, 1962, in Lander, WY. While quiet and soft spoken, he had a mighty love for the Lord, his wife of 38 years and his family. Dean was an incredibly hard worker, but all who knew Dean also knew how generous he was. He enjoyed cooking outside, hosting get-togethers at their home, having a drink and listening to good music as well as spending time with his bees.
He is preceded in death by his mother-in-law, “Memom” Linda Stevens and loving sister-in-law, Terri Shaffer and sister-in-law, Linda Shaffer.
Dean is survived by his wife, Christal Shaffer; children, Justin Shaffer and wife Kayla, Miles Shaffer, and Ainsley Hernandez and husband Josue; his children in Christ, Chris Lovell, and Andrew Stevens and wife Sutton; grandchildren, Kayden Shaffer and fiancé Nathan Mac, Colton Shaffer and wife Payton, Jaid, Remi, Briggs, Watts, Hutch, Justice and Maverick; great-grandchild, Colter; his parents, James Oliver Shaffer and Alice Bethine; siblings, Randy Shaffer, Cheryl Shaffer and partner Mike Hoffman, Mike Shaffer and wife Kim, Cathey Tewes and husband Andy; numerous other nieces, nephews and family members.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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OBITUARIES

Betty Sue Bynum

Published

2 weeks ago

05/28/2025

bowienews

April 3, 1929 – May 20, 2025
BOWIE – Betty Sue Bynum, 96, passed away on May 20, 2025 in Nocona, TX.
Betty was born on April 3, 1929 in Thornton to Thomas Everett and Eva May Stiff Hardaway. She attended elementary school in Van Alstyne and attended high school in Calvert. She graduated from Teachers College High School and continued on to North Texas State Teacher’s College graduating with a bachelor of arts, library science degree at age 20. In 1977, she continued her education obtaining a master of education degree at University of North Texas.
While attending college, Betty met her future husband, Floyd Arthur Bynum. Betty wanted to work and live on her own for a year before getting married, so they had a long distance courtship while she taught school for a year in Canyon, Texas. They decided they were meant for each other and married on Aug. 5, 1950 in McKinney.
After starting their family in 1951, Betty and Floyd moved to Bowie where Floyd was industrial arts teacher at Bowie High School. Betty was a stay-at-home mom for few years. In 1960, she restarted her teaching career, teaching sixth grade for many years, eventually moving to high school where she was librarian until her retirement in 1988. She was a lifetime member of TSTA and a member of TLA.
Betty is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Alma Lou Perkins and husband, Floyd A. Bynum.
Betty is survived by her three daughters, Nancy Headley, (Douglas), Jean Richards (John) and Patricia Johnson (Craig), grandchildren, Heather Morse, Alicia Hutchison, Jennifer Holloman, Justin Richards, Steven Johnson and Brian Johnson; seven great grandchildren and two nieces, Suzanne Scott and Dianne Herr.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie, TX.
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OBITUARIES

Pedro Leon Olvera

Published

3 weeks ago

05/22/2025

bowienews

May 19, 1976 – May 11, 2025
NOCONA – Pedro Leon Olvera, 48, died on May 11, 2025.
There was a rosary at 6 p.m. on May 18 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel in Nocona. A funeral service was at noon on May 19 at St. Jospeh’s Catholic Church in Nocona.
He was born on May 19, 1976 in Celya, Mexico Guanajuato to Juan Olvera and Felixa Leon. Olvera was a part of a big family and hard-worker all of his life. He worked mostly in agriculture as a rancher. He loved working on cars in his spare time, especially with his son. He married Blanca Torres in 1995 in Celya, Mexico Guanajuato.
He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Rosa and Juana Gomez; and nephew, Juan Gomez Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Blanca Olvera; Nocona; son, Pedro Jr. Olvera, Nocona; daughter, Mariana Hampton, Gainesville; sisters, Yolanda, Nocona and Margarita, Mexico; brothers, Juan, Luis, Santiago and Francisco, all of Mexico; a grandson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.