OBITUARIES

Connie Rue Thomas

Published

2 years ago

04/14/2023

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

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.
Paid publication

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.