OBITUARIES
Connie Rue Thomas
October 20, 1955 – April 10, 2023
BOWIE – Connie Rue Thomas, 67, passed away peacefully at home on April 10, 2023 in Bowie.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on April 15 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on April 16 at Southside Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Post Oak Cemetery in Post Oak, TX.
Connie was born in Bowie on Oct. 20, 1955, to Jesse Wayne and Minnie Lou Geer. She was the youngest of three sisters who were all proud Bowie Jackrabbit mascots. She graduated from Bowie High School in 1974. Connie attended Draughon’s Business School and later married Nelson Thomas on May 28, 1976. They built their life together in Bowie raising three children and creating countless memories. They grew from being Mom and Dad to eventually being Mops and Pops. She spent decades as a photographer shooting weddings, seniors, sports and nature.
Connie lived and loved big. She was a true original. She lived life to the fullest in every possible way with an unmatched zest and passion for her family and celebrating life. She had a heart the size of Texas and shared it with everyone she met. She was Auntie Connie beloved by so many. She had an infectious way of always spreading joy wherever she went. The love Connie shared in her lifetime will create ripples for years to come throughout our community and afar.
She loved traveling with Nelson anywhere from Post Oak to Alaska and looked forward to her annual trips to Red River, NM and Galveston. She loved being Mops to her grandkids. She loved gardening, decorating for the holidays, reading and playing the piano. Connie loved her hometown, the community and was the Bowie Jackrabbits’ biggest fan. She created an experience around every holiday and always found a way to gather her immediate and extended family to create new memories. Connie knew how to make someone feel special, supported and she never met a stranger.
Connie had profound respect for her mom’s career in teaching and continued her legacy through the annual Minnie Lou Geer Scholarship Fund. She was proud to be a part of a family of educators and in her own way was a teacher of life, positively influencing countless people.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Samuel Shannon Campsey, Georgia Roth and Willie and Vida Geer; parents, Jesse Wayne Geer and Minnie Lou Geer and sister, Deborah Harris.
Connie is survived by her husband, Nelson Thomas, Bowie; three children, Jennifer Glover and husband Lyal Glover, Northlake, Wes Thomas and wife Linda Thomas, Denton and Chase Thomas and wife Amber Thomas, Bowie; five grandchildren, Kingston Thomas, Ian Thomas, Campsey Thomas, Jax Thomas and Crue Thomas; one sister, Martha Vincent; Bowie; 10 nieces and nephews, Wayne Leek and wife Patty Leek, Brock, Valarie Gill and husband Darren Gill, Bowie, Marcus Vincent and wife Jennifer Vincent, Huntsville, AL, Melissa Vincent, Gosford, Australia, Michelle Vincent, Bowie, TaShawna Nash and husband Darron Nash, Seattle, Aubrey Lehotta and husband Justin Lehotta, Ryley Thomas and wife Jessica Thomas, Madisen Ricoy and husband Omelino Ricoy and Jolie Thomas and a host of great-nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Minnie Lou Scholarship Fund can be made at Legend Bank.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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OBITUARIES
Mary ‘Anna’ Lyon
December 20, 1936 – December 26, 2024
BOWIE – Mary “Anna” Lyon, 88, died on Dec. 26, 2024 in Wichita Falls.
A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. on Jan. 4, 2025, at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie with Pastor Dwyane Lamberson officiating.
She was born Dec. 20, 1936, in Levelland, to Charlie and Myrtle (New) Vinyard. She married Ervin Lyon on June 5, 1954, and spent her days as a homemaker, raising their two sons.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband; five brothers and four sisters.
She is survived by her sons, Danny Lyon and Joe Lyon, both of Bowie; four grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Patsy Salter, Lubbock and Martha Turnbow, Gatesville and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
OBITUARIES
Stacy Ray Trayler
September 18, 1969 – December 1, 2024
SUNSET – Stacy Ray Trayler, 55, died Dec. 1, in Denton surrounded by family.
A visitation for family and friends will be from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Jan. 11. There will be a private graveside service at a later date.
Trayler was born on Sept. 18, 1969 in Muenster to Raymond and Joyce Trayler. He spent his life working in the oil field as a driller and driving a truck.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Raymond Trayler and Joyce Collier Trayler and brother, Jerry Trayler.
Trayler is survived by his children, Vanessa Clark, Bowie, Vincent Trayler, Oklahoma City and Val Trayler, Terral, OK; one brother, Michial Trayler, Heavener, OK; sisters, Raenell DeSoza, Sunset and Annie Ross, Bowie; four grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home, Bowie.
OBITUARIES
Donald Ray Taylor
January 20, 1938 – December 21, 2024
NOCONA – Donald Ray Taylor, 86, died on Dec. 21, 2024 in Nocona.
A funeral service took place at 2 p.m. on Dec. 27 at Nocona Cemetery. Pallbearers were Tom Skinner, Steve Tettleton, Bob Langford, Jon Dunfee, Manuel Sanchez and Coley Frye. Honorary pallbearers were Jimmy Bennett, Mike Henry, Chris Tettleton and Toby Howard.
He was born to Johnny and Ozella Lewis Taylor on Jan. 20, 1938. A lifelong resident of Nocona, he never met a stranger, loving to tell stories and laugh.
Taylor married Patsy Cheshier on Aug. 25, 1965 in Nocona. They went on to raise two children. Taylor also was a proud veteran of the United States Army.
Taylor worked several years for Bowie Industries before going to work for Nocona Independent School District, where he became the supervisor of maintenance and transportation until he retired in 1999. This Nocona native enjoyed coaching his son’s little league teams, golfing with his wife and friends and all sports were a big part of his life.
He was preceded in death by his wife Patsy and son, Brad.
He is survived by his children, Jeff Taylor, Orange Grove, TX, John Taylor, Christoval, TX and Kim Taylor, Dallas; two grandchildren, two great grandchildren and his dog Buddy.
In lieu of flowers the family ask donations be made to St. Jude Hospital.
Arrangements were under the direction of Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.
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