OBITUARIES
Charles H. Blanton “Sonny”
November 7, 1933 – March 29, 2024
BURKBURNETT – Charles H. Blanton “Sonny”, 90, met Jesus in Wichita Falls on Good Friday, March 29, 2024.
A funeral service will take place at 1 p.m. on April 3 at the First Baptist Church of Bowie with Joe Taylor officiating. Burial will follow at 4 p.m. at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie.
Charles was born on Nov. 7, 1933 in Caddo, TX (Stephens County) and grew up in Newcastle. He played football and was known around the area for his talent. After graduating high school, he and his best friend took off for Texas A&M. However, it didn’t take long for him to realize he wasn’t an Aggie and he and the friend left in the middle of the night. They ended up at Ranger Junior College where he played football and met his wife, Peggy Lee Russell. They were married on June 5, 1954 and would have been married 70 years this June.
Charles and Peggy moved to Lubbock where Charles again played football for the Texas Tech Red Raiders and could finally claim life-long loyalty. After earning his degree in education, the Blantons found themselves in San Antonio where Charles served in the Army during peace time. Recently someone asked his rank, and his son answered ‘Half-Back’ as that is where they really needed him… on the football team. Outside of football he worked in the dermatology department.
He moved to Levelland, TX after his service in the Army where Charles got a football coaching job. Their daughter Kim was born in 1959. In 1963 they moved to Bowie where they would spend the next 50 years. Their son Rusty was born there in 1967.
Charles was an educator, football Coach and high school Principal in the Bowie school system for more than 30 years. He was a beloved part of the school and was known for his ‘hugs’. To this day, people still mention his good hugs when remembering him. He was also a ‘quarter dispenser’ as the students knew they could get some spare change if they needed it.
During his time in Bowie, Charles was a member of the First Baptist Church, where he served as a Deacon for many years as well as heading numerous committees. He was a long time member of the Bowie Kiwanis Club and spent many hours at their playground mowing and trying to repair that old equipment, and probably kept many of Bowie’s children from getting life threatening injuries. After retirement, he worked as an interim superintendent of schools in and around North Texas. But his real love was working with students. He much preferred that over the business of running schools and dealing with parents.
Charles loved working with his cattle and fishing. He caught and fried many a catfish for family and friends, and made hundreds of freezers of homemade ‘Big Red’ ice cream.
In 2013, Charles and Peggy decided to move to Burkburnett, to be close to their son and his family. Their grandson was young and into all sports, and Charles was burning up the road between Bowie and Burkburnett to keep up. There, not only did they enjoy being close to Rusty’s family, but also met many new friends at the First Baptist Church of Burkburnett.
Charles was an avid sports fan but particularly enjoyed the Red Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and in later years the Kansas City Chiefs because… well Mahomes was a Red Raider too. That gave him a lot of enjoyment. We know he is looking forward to visiting with his old coaching buddies so they might finally be able to put their heads together and figure out what is wrong with his beloved Cowboys.
Charles life long faith tells his family exactly where he is kneeling today and because of his example they know they will be seeing him again someday in Glory.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Horace and Maranna Blanton.
Charles is survived by his wife of 70 years, Peggy Russell Blanton, Burkburnett; daughter, Kim Ferguson and husband Mike, Dallas; son, Rusty Blanton and wife Jamie, Burkburnett and grandchildren, Ashlee Carlson and husband Jeffrey, Dallas, Camille Blanton, Austin and Cayden Charles Blanton, Burkburnett. He is also survived by his sister, Bettye Pinkerton, Winters, TX; brother, Dan Blanton and wife Trini, Mansfield and multiple nieces and nephews who all loved ‘uncle Sonny.’
Should friends desire, memorials can be made in honor of Charles to Hospice of Wichita Falls or the Bowie Educational Foundation.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
November 11, 1944 – April 19, 2025
BELLEVUE – Gary Leo Fergueson, 80, died on April 19, 2025.
A graveside service will take place at 11 a.m. on April 24 at Vashti Cemetery with Michael Brannon and Jeff Brannon officiating.
He was born on Nov. 11, 1944 to Vera (Chappell) and Lewis Fergueson. He worked in the food and grocery industry at multiple store chains beginning in Fort Worth and ending in Bowie. He also worked as a rancher at his family farm in Vashti. Fergueson proudly served his country in the United States Army, he completed his basic training in San Fransico and was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Alta Fergueson Brannon.
He is survived by his nephew, Jeff Brannon; niece, Krista Brannon Blackrock; brother-in-law Michael Brannon and a very special friend of 60 years, Helen Ulbig.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
November 8, 1939 – April 19, 2025
BOWIE – Dr. Calvin Charles Carmen, 85, died on April 19, 2025 in Bowie, TX
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. on April 26 at the Bowie First Methodist Church. Interment will be at the DFW Military Cemetery.
Dr. Carmen was born Nov. 8, 1939 in Niagara Falls, Ont. to Florence Delia and Charles Carmen. Dr. Carmen attended New York schools until 1957 when he dropped out to join the Navy at just 17 years old. While in the Navy, he completed high school and was selected for officer candidate school. He graduated with the rank of second lieutenant and served as a communications officer aboard the naval battleship USS Hailey for four years. He later served as a naval reserve chaplain.
Dr. Carmen received his bachelor and master degrees from Central Bible College, and his Master of Divinity from Nazarene Theological Seminary in Springfield, MO. He then earned his PhD in clinical psychology from Union Graduate School. As a clinical psychology intern at the Tufts University Behavioral Health Unit in Boston, MA, he received a commendation for outstanding service to his patients. He completed his postgraduate studies at Colgate Rochester Divinity School. Dr. Carmen served as pastor of South Park United Methodist Church in Buffalo, NY for nine years, and was pastor at Plymouth Bay Assembly of God in Pembroke, MA for an additional nine years.
Dr. Carmen then accepted the position of clinical director at Houston Medical Center. From there, he established Dr. Carmen and Associates, a practice serving the greater Houston area. He was then called to initiate a graduate counseling and psychology program at Nelson University (formerly Southwestern) in Waxahachie. There, he authored textbooks on counseling, psychology and the Christian faith.
Nelson University awarded Dr. Carmen both the distinguished professor award and professor emeritus award. He was a member of The American Association for Counseling and Development, the Christian Counselors of Texas, the American Psychological Association, and Psi Chi, National Honor Society. Dr. Carmen served several years as a member of the Texas state board of certification for licensed professional counselors. At his passing, he was the associate pastor of Bowie First Methodist Church.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Charles Carmen.
He is survived by his wife, Annette (née Gruppo) Carmen; daughter, Noelle Carmen; son, Benjamin Carmen and nine grandchildren.
Donations will be gratefully accepted to Nelson University on behalf of the Dr. Calvin C. Carmen Counseling and Psychology Scholarship Fund online at: nelson.edu/give.
Arrangements through the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
January 28, 1940 – April 8, 2025
CANYON LAKE – Daniel Morris Butler, 85, died on April 8, 2025.
A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. on May 3 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. Burial will follow at Hopewell Cemetery in Stoneburg.
He was born on Jan. 28, 1940 to Lena (Lyons) and Dave Butler. He married the late Barbara Jameson Nov. 23, 1964, in Houston. Together they raised three children. He worked as an electrician at Mauch Electric and later owned and operated DB Electric from 1989 to 2002.
He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Barbara Butler and son, Kenneth Patrick Butler.
He is survived by his children, Diana Craig and James Butler, both Canyon Lake; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie, Texas.
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