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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

Boyce E. Trahern

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April 17, 1941 – October 19, 2024
BOWIE – Boyce E. Trahern, 83, died Oct. 19, 2024 in Weatherford.
A memorial service will take place at 2 p.m. on Oct. 24 at White Family Funeral Home.
He was born on April 17, 1941 in Ulysses, KS to Raymond and Frances Trahern. He worked as a machinist for Weatherford Fish and Tool for 14 years, Bowie Industries for 25 years and Beavers Construction.
He is preceded in death by his parents; two brothers; one sister and his son, Gentry.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Trahern, Bowie; sister, Shirley Trimpa, Satanta, KS; children, Flint Trahern, Bowie, Troy Trahern, Sunray, TX, Chris Bradford, Bridgeport, Penny Jacobson, Gillette, WY and Julie Bradford, Bowie; 12 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren with two on the way, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home.

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OBITUARIES

Shirley Ann Haney

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November 17, 1941 – October 18, 2024
BOWIE – Shirley Ann Haney, 82, died Oct. 18, 2024 in Bowie.
A visitation took place from 6 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 21 at White Family Funeral Home. A funeral service was at 10 a.m. on Oct. 22 at Bible Baptist Church in Bowie, with burial following at Elmwood Cemetery.
She was born on Nov. 17, 1941 in Bowie to Aubrey and Sybil Beasley. She met Don Haney while attending high school and they married on Oct. 11, 1958. She attended school in Bowie where she graduated in 1959.
She enjoyed being a homemaker and spent many years as a pastor’s wife. She later opened a furniture store with her husband, and they served the community for 25 years.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Don; her parents; daughter, Sheila Haney; one granddaughter, and siblings, Billy Ray Beasley and Peggy Posey.
She is survived by her children, Mindy Gresham and Richie Haney, both of Bowie; four grandchildren; four great grandchildren and siblings, Larry Beasley and Belinda Mahaffey.
Arrangements are entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home.

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OBITUARIES

Barbara Gail Covey Hutson

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WEATHERFORD – Barbara Gail Covey Hutson, 85, passed away peacefully on Sept. 23, 2024 at her home in Weatherford, surrounded by her loved ones.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. on Nov. 2 at the Newport Cemetery in Newport, TX.
Gail was born in Goree, TX in 1939 to parents Houston E. and Berniece Covey. Gail lived most of her younger years in Fort Worth until her family moved to Bowie when she was in the eighth grade. Although shy by nature she always said the move to Bowie afforded her new experiences she wouldn’t have had in Fort Worth such as being a part of the nationally acclaimed Bowie High School band and the Bowie Rodeo Club, which allowed her to enjoy her love of horses. Upon graduating from Bowie High School in 1957 she attended Sul Ross University in Alpine, TX majoring in English.
Gail was a creative person who loved the arts, whether it was literature, theatre, movies or art. She wrote poetry and as an avid reader, her home was filled with books. Fine art was one of her passions and she worked with various mediums. Although her work was never sold in galleries, several pieces received top honors in art shows. Her sketch of the Parker County Courthouse is used for pamphlets, posters and other signage for the Parker County Historical Commission. Her artwork, now treasured heirlooms, will be enjoyed by her family and descendants for years to come.
Additionally, she had a passion for music which was a part of her life until the day she died. Considered a child prodigy on the piano, she performed on the “Young Americans” program at the age of 10 on WBAP-TV in Fort Worth. She took pleasure in passing on the love of piano by teaching her granddaughter, Blair, to play since her biggest passion of all was her family. Considering it her finest achievement, she raised two children with her husband, Red, creating a loving family bond that will continue to grow and blossom with each new generation.
Gail was a member of the Weatherford Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution National Society, one of the oldest chapters in Texas. Gail’s sixth great grandfather, Samuel Covey, was one of the 900 Patriots who fought at the Battle of Kings Mountain in South Carolina in 1780. The Battle of Kings Mountain was one of the most decisive engagements in the American War of Independence.
Gail was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Dairel Hutson and is survived by her daughter, Janna Gail Blumentritt and husband Bruce; son, Jason Covey Hutson and wife Jennifer; grandchildren, Blair Willmott and husband Justin, Marlowe Streck and husband Joe and grandson, Layne Hutson; nephews, Greg Hutson, Spencer Freidl, Peter and Mark Covey; nieces, Ann Covey Smith and Laura Covey Danforth and her aunt, Charlotte Lloyd, as well as great grandchildren, Skylar and Houston Willmott.
Memorial donations can be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, the American Heart Association or Give Kids The Arts, an organization that helps provide art, music, dance and theater supplies to children.

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