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OBITUARIES

Charles H. Blanton “Sonny”

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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.

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OBITUARIES

Carla Jo Johnson-Robbins

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August 18, 1939 – July 18, 2024
BOWIE – Carla Jo Johnson-Robbins, 84, passed away on July 18, 2024 at home in Bowie.
A graveside service will take place at 10 a.m. on July 27 at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie.
Carla was born on Aug. 18, 1939, the firstborn of the eight children of Mara “Mary” Dean Swaggerty and Jarrell Chester McDonald. Carla passed away one month shy of 85 years here on earth. To her three grown children, 11 grandchildren and 32 great-grandchildren she was known as “Geemaw.” Carla was a loving sister, daughter, aunt and mother among many other things.
Carla lived most of her life in Bowie where she graduated eighth grade in 1953, married Bobby Joe Johnson in 1955 at the young age of 16, and two years after that, in 1957 and at the age of 18, began her own family. Years later Carla reconnected with her kindergarten sweetheart, Clifton Robbins and they enjoyed 16 years of marriage before her passing.
Carla worked at various jobs and positions throughout her life, including taking in laundry and ironing, babysitting, working in a textile plant at Haggar Slacks in Bowie, working in a Zenith TV plant in Springfield, MO, working as a librarian at the Bowie Public Library and working as a hospital insurance coordinator at the Bowie Memorial Hospital where she ended up retiring after many years.
Carla’s father was an over-the-road truck driver, and her mother was a textile worker during the years that followed the end of World War II and on through the many years until they retired. Her parents built a house on Miller Street in Bowie during the time of peace and prosperity following the war, a legacy that still stands proudly today as a living reminder of the many good years of McDonald family life that found shelter and love under its roof. Carla passed from this life peacefully at home, just two doors down from that house, a testament to the influence and imprint her parents and that house had on the children that lived there and knew its undying bond of love.
She is preceded in death by her loving parents, Jarrell Chester McDonald and Mary Dean Swaggerty; five siblings, Judy Haney, Jerry McDonald, Marilyn Cross, Carolyn Carter and Johnny (Bo) McDonald; her first husband, Bobby Joe Johnson and two great-grandchild, Charity Faith Gonce and Benjamin Gazer Gonce.
Carla is survived by her husband, Clifton Robbins, Bowie; three children, Randell Ray Johnson, Granbury, Kimberley Kay Johnson Brock (Brian), Henrietta and Robert Joel Johnson (Sun Young), Bowie; sister, Diane Mara, Wichita Falls; brother, Kenneth McDonald (Dena), Bowie; 11 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to one of the following Parkinson’s Research Foundations: Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at michaeljfox.org/give or The Parkinson’s Foundation at parkinsons.org/give.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

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OBITUARIES

Vernon Ray Horneman

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January 4, 1966 – July 20, 2024
SHERMAN – Vernon Horneman, 58, passed away July 20, 2024 in Sherman.
The family received friends from 6 to 7 p.m. on July 23 at Geo. J. Carroll and Son Funeral Home in Gainesville. A graveside service is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on July 24 at Montague Cemetery in Montague.
Recognized as pallbearers are James Moore, Keen Simpson, Rick Watson, Jim Duncan and Chris Hamilton.
Vernon was born Jan. 4, 1966 in Texarkana. He was raised and attended school in Hope, AR. Mr. Horneman graduated from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas and enjoyed his career in nursing. He married Cathy Hamilton on Nov. 17, 2001 in Montague. Mr. Horneman enjoyed fishing, playing golf, watching TV and playing dominoes with family, but was most passionate about music. He loved to sing and share music with others.
Mr. Horneman was preceded in death by his parents, Rich and Mary Horneman; daughter, Amanda Lynn Horneman and father-in-law, G.C. Hamilton.
Survivors include his wife, Catherine Ann Horneman, Sherman; brother, Arthur L. “Renzi” Horneman and wife Tracie, Hope, AR; sister, Teri D. Horneman; numerous nieces and nephews; mother-in-law, Wilma Jean Hamilton, Montague and brother-in-law, Chris Hamilton, Montague.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association. You may register your condolences online at geojcarroll.com.
Arrangements entrusted to Geo. J. Carroll and Son Funeral Home of Gainesville.

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OBITUARIES

Cindy Andreasen

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December 14, 1967 – July 17, 2024
Fairview, MT – Cindy Andreasen, 56, died on July 17, 2024 at the Sidney Health Center in Sidney, MT.
A visitation was from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on July 23 at the Fulkerson-Stevenson Funeral Home in Sidney, MT. A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on July 24 at the Fulkerson-Stevenson Memorial Chapel with Pastor Jim Harmon officiating. Interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery in Fairview, ND.
Arrangements entrusted to Fulkerson Stevenson Funeral Home of Sidney, MT.

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