OBITUARIES
Joyce Faye Cox Bennett
May 9, 1946 – March 3, 2024
DECATUR – Joyce Faye Cox Bennett, 77, passed away March 3, 2024 in Plano.
Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. March 6 at Hawkins Funeral Home Chapel in Decatur. A service will be at 10 a.m. March 7 at First Baptist Church in Alvord with Bro. Bill Cleveland officiating. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie.
Pallbearers are Hayden Bennett, Caleb Bennett, Slate Souther, Austin Souther, Tee Weeks, Rex Hoskins, Randy Hamilton, Kenny Batchelor and Charles Steadham. Honorary pallbearers are Ken Dodson, Dan Harvey and Don Singleton.
Joyce was born May 9, 1946 in Bowie to Hubert Jackson and Odessa (Cornelison) Cox. She graduated from Bowie High School in 1964. She married James Leroy Bennett on March 19, 1966 in Bowie. Together they raised their only child, Jackson Deroy Bennett, who was born May 4, 1970. James, a Decatur police officer, preceded Joyce in death on April 3, 1980, when he was killed in the line of duty.
Joyce was a police dispatcher for many years and then became a hairstylist, working the last 28 years at Patti’s Hair Parlor in Decatur. Joyce enjoyed going to the casino, karaoke and attending every event that her grandsons were involved in.
Joyce was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, James Bennett; brother, Raymond Cox and brother-in-law, James Parker.
Survivors include her spouse, David Souther, Decatur; son, Deroy Bennett and wife Kristi, Decatur; grandsons, Hayden Bennett, New Castle, OK and Caleb Bennett and fiancée Gracie Isham, Decatur; David’s children, Tommy Souther and wife Angie, Keller and Danny Souther and wife Kellye, Alvord and grandchildren, Sloane Morman and husband Ethan, Haslet, Slate Souther, Denver, CO, Austin Souther, Alvord and Shay Souther, Keller; brother, Gary Cox and wife Nancy, Alvord; sister, Phyllis Simmons and husband Cary, Alvord and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorials can be made to Jenny’s Hope, c/o Wise County Christian Counseling Center, 1650 FM 51 South, Ste. 400, Decatur, TX 76234.
Paid publication
December 27, 1965 – August 12, 2026
NOCONA – Daniel Forrest Barrett, 60, died on Aug. 12, 2026.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
He was born Dec. 27, 1965, in Spring Branch to James Harry Barrett and Opal Laverne Henderson. He played football at Northwestern and went on to graduate from Stephen F. Austin State University with a bachelor’s degree in finance. He worked mostly as a stock broker.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Chuck Barrett.
He is survived by his three children, Reagan, Dylan and Connor; two grandchildren; sister, Sherri Lynn Watson; two nieces; one nephew and siblings, Jesse, Rich and Cheryl.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.
July 24, 1960 – August 12, 2026
WICHITA FALLS – David Duke, 66, died on Aug. 12, 2026 in Wichita Falls, TX.
There was a visitation from 6 – 8 p.m. on Aug. 16 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service was at 10 a.m. on Aug. 17 at the Abundant Life Church officiated by Pastor James Messer.
Interment followed in Terral Cemetery. Pallbearers were Randy Harris, Randy Croxton, Wiley Vanover, Zak Weaver, Bradley Lawrence and Ross Atteberry. Honorary pallbearers were David Morrison and the Red River Dozer Crew.
He was born on July 24, 1960 in Bowie to Harvey and Marjorie Romine Duke. He was a dozer operator mainly for Red River Dozer. He grew up in Terral, OK where he graduated high school. He married Micheal Heathington on Nov. 26, 1994 in Spanish Fort.
He is preceded in death by his parents and one granddaughter.
He is survived by his wife, Micheal Duke; children, Leslie Halt, Kendra Grottie and Kyle Duke; sisters, Delores Weatherly and Sharon Westbrook; brothers, Ricky Duke and Ronnie Duke, and nine grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Eagle Point Cemetery Association.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.
June 12, 1981 – August 2, 2026
DALLAS – Timothy Tompkins, 45, died on Aug. 2, 2026 in Dallas, TX.
There was a memorial service on at 10 a.m. Aug. 8 at Shepherd of the Hills Baptist Church with Pastor Dan Sparkman officiating. A private family interment will follow at a later date.
He was born on June 12, 1981 to Sam and Paula Tompkins in Wichita Falls. He was a driver, worked the oil industry for several years, wroked as a ranch manager and carpenter. He was a member of Valley View Baptist Church. He married Christy Marie Harris on Sept. 24, 2005 in Nocona.
He is survived by his wife, Christy Tompkins, Nocona; parents, Sam and Paula Tompkins, Spanish Fort; sister, Amanda York, Wichita Falls; children, Samantha Dawn Tompkins, Stephenville, Brock Wilson Tompkins, Frisco, Deagan Brodie Tompkins, Spanish Fort, Lillian Marie “Lili” Tompkins, Spanish Fort and three nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to Shepherd of the Hills Baptist Church, P.O. Box 330, Nocona.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.
-
NEWS3 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS4 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS3 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS4 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS3 years agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
Show us something good9 years agoCountry music star children perform in Bowie
-
100th Birthday4 years agoLooking back at the 1958 Centennial edition of The Bowie News
-
NEWS3 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death