OBITUARIES
Virginia Ella Crumpler

Virginia Ella Crumpler
June 15, 1926 – December 22, 2023
BOWIE – Virginia Crumpler, 97, passed through to her heavenly home, reunited with all loved ones she’d been waiting to see for many years, including her beloved son, Dr. Paul Hulen Crumpler on Dec. 22, 2023.
A visitation will begin at 1 p.m. on Jan. 27. The celebration of life honoring Virginia will follow at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, Bryan.
Virginia, daughter of Horace and Margaret Hatcher, was born June 15, 1926, in Cherryvale, KS, youngest of nine children. The family moved to Rogers, AR, when she was six, and two years later to Monett, MO, where she graduated from high school in 1944. She moved to Houston, to live with an older sister. Virginia then went to business school and found employment with a newly established oil company. While in Houston, she joined Beta Sigma Phi Business Sorority, representing the Eta Phi Chapter. In 1947 Virginia was named “Sweetheart of Beta Sigma Phi.”
In 1949 she met and married Dr. Hulen Crumpler, a family practitioner in Bowie, who along with his brother, surgeon Dr. Prentice Crumpler, and gynecologist, Dr. E. P. Harris, owned and operated the Bowie Clinic and Hospital.
Virginia loved bowling and was regularly on a team in Bowie until they closed down the bowling alley. Then her team traveled to Wichita Falls every week to bowl. While there, Virginia’s skills were honored with an appearance on TV when the amateur once achieved the highest score in the tournament (277/300), earning a bonus check.
In the Bowie community, Virginia championed youth activities through the Bowie Independent School District Booster Club, Bowie ISD Band Parents, Hospital Auxiliary and Boy Scouts. She helped raise money for scouting cots and tents by having a spaghetti supper at church—she cooked all the food, including pies for dessert. Virginia was awarded the distinction of “Woman of the Year” in 1971 by the Bowie Chamber of Commerce.
The Bowie Hospital Auxiliary recognized her for more than 1,000 hours of service, as she helped organize the Junior Auxiliary, training high school students for work at the hospital during the summer months. Her gifts of time and unselfish devotion fed souls and children alike. For the booster club, Virginia was responsible for the football and all-sports banquets—from selling tickets to providing home-cooked meals. Whether she cooked 50 pounds of her famous chili to fill bowls or top hot dogs, it was natural for her to serve 350–400 people at the banquets and she made it look easy.
Her Christian church work in the Baptist faith started in Bowie, where she began by enrolling babies into the church. From there, she became director of the nursery, working with toddlers, beginners and pre-school ages. Virginia worked in bible school every year and was active in her Sunday school class.
In Bowie, Virginia kept a beautiful home; her yard was perfectly manicured. She took pride in taking care of the yard, from planting trees and shrubs, to pruning, spraying and fertilizing.
Virginia made Bryan her home in October 1984. She began working at Texas Agricultural Extension Service as a receptionist in 1985 and retired in 1998. Her main interest in life, though, was her children. She attended every function they had and lovingly took care of their every need throughout her lifetime.
She joined First Baptist Church of Bryan in December 1984 and enjoyed 40 years of faithful friendships in her Sunday school class. Later, Virginia became active in “KITS” (Keeping In Touch), a group especially for 55+ members, who liked to play 42 and other games. She loved to attend church each Wednesday night for fellowship and worship. She was presented the Outstanding Senior Adult Volunteer award for 2010–2011, for “her unselfish time and effort aiding in the success of the Adult 55+ Ministry.”
Maintaining a vital, active lifestyle, Virginia loved to eat out with different friends several times a week and her friends gathered regularly in her home in more recent years as her journeys outside home became more restricted. There were never any needs she had that her children didn’t meet for her as she had always been there for them as they were growing up.
Virginia is survived by son, James Robert and daughter-in-law, Kristel Crumpler, Bowie; daughter, Jeannie Michelle (Crumpler) Mansill and son-in-law, Owen Mansill, Bryan; grandchildren, Jason Goss (Jennifer), Justin Goss (Bridget) and Calli Goss Halbrook (Brandon), Jameson (Michaela) and Jordan Crumpler, Sarah (Dan), Jason Crumpler, and Jenna Crumpler, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Virginia’s memory to Project Unity, the community family nonprofit created and founded by her daughter, Jeannie, in 1995. Donations may be sent to Project Unity, P.O. Box 2812, Bryan, TX 77805. Express condolences at CallawayJones.com.
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OBITUARIES
Dean Allen Shaffer

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

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

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.
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