OBITUARIES
Claudia Fay Sanford
December 1, 1927 – May 12, 2024
WHITESBORO – Claudia Fay Sanford, 96, went home to be with the Lord on May 12, 2024.
A graveside service will take place 11 a.m. on May 18 at Sunset Cemetery in Sunset.
Claudia was born Dec. 1, 1927 in Gunter, TX to Jessie and Birdie (Walker) Fletcher. As a young girl she was raised in the Sherman and Denison areas. Claudia was a cook in the school cafeteria and drove a school bus. Later she worked in housekeeping at the Bowie Memorial Hospital. She retired and moved to Kingston, OK. Claudia was very music minded and always enjoyed picking and grinning. In her free time she enjoyed sewing. She loved her family dearly and will be remembered for being a devoted mother and grandmother.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Billy “Red” Sanford; son, Rodney Hancock; granddaughter, Alicia Adams; grandson, Joseph Hodge; four sisters and two brothers.
Claudia is survived by her daughters, Ann Cantrell and husband Bill, Kingston, OK and Anita Caplinger and husband Kevin, Whitesboro; son, Willie Hodge and wife Shannon, Tolar, TX; grandchildren, Debbie Keatts and husband Bruce, Bud Bridgeman, Amy Davis and husband Rodd, Josh Cantrell and wife Tanya, Adam Cantrell and wife Angie, Sarah Burnett and husband Wes, Aaron Adams and wife Shannon, Dustin Adams and wife Janice, Josh Lott and wife Tiffany, Kris Whitmire and husband Derrick, Brandie Caplinger, Cody Fowler and wife Chelsea, Candiauce Klein, Randy Hodge and wife Stephanie, Jada Browder, Kristie Lancaster and husband Bubba, Devon Turner and Alysha Browder; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-granchildren.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
February 9, 1968 – July 4, 2026
BOWIE – Steven Douglas Drury, 58 died on July 4, 2026.
A private celebration of life for the family was on July 10.
He was an entrepreneur and created his business Drill Rig Depot.
He is survived by his wife, Christina Drury; four children, Sydney, Ben, Bailey and Josie; six grandchildren; parents, Don and Lois Drury; and brothers, David, Danny and Christopher.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
December 22, 1959 – July 1, 2026
SUNSET – John Wayne Shelton, 66, died on July 1, 2026.
There was a celebration of life for him from 5 – 7 p.m. on July 10 at Nocona Brewery.
He was born on Dec. 22, 1959 to Wade and Thelma Shelton in Nocona. He worked in the oilfield most of his life. He married Stephanie Burleson on Dec. 13, 1984 in Nocona.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his children, Jared Shelton, Bowie and Stacia Lorenz, Tennessee; sister, Serina Thomas, Bowie; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Memorial donations made to the American Heart Association, www.heart.org.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home of Nocona.
March 3, 1962 – July 6, 2026
WICHITA FALLS – Weldon Ray Duff, 64, died on July 6, 2026.
There was a visitation from 6 – 7 p.m. on July 10 at Jerry Woods Chapel in Nocona. A graveside service was at 10 a.m. on July 11 at Ringgold Cemetery with Richard Allen officiating. Pallbearers will be Mike Bonham, Jimmy Smith, Hatch Womack, Lynn Bugsy Allen, Blake Allen, Marlin Franklin, Joe Barnhill and Butch Matthews.
Duff was born on March 3, 1962 in Henrietta to Benjamin Franklin Duff Jr. and Myra Durham Duff. He worked as a machinist and was known as a “Jack-Of-All-Trades.”
Duff was a member of Bowie Masonic Lodge 578. He married Jowana Bussey on Aug. 8, 1980 in Ringgold.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Jowana Duff, Ringgold; daughter, Jessica Lierly, Collinsville; sister, Becky Case, Stoneburg; brother, Benjamin Franklin Duff III, Lonegrove, OK and three grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 440 Cypress Ave., Wichita Falls or Ringgold Cemetery Association, 1108 Hanson Rd., Ringgold.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home in 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
-
NEWS3 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
100th Birthday4 years agoLooking back at the 1958 Centennial edition of The Bowie News