OBITUARIES

Gloria Ethel Painter

Published

2 years ago

05/17/2024

April 22, 1932 – May 15, 2024
NOCONA – Gloria Ethel Painter, 92, died on May 15, 2024 in the Pecan Tree Manor in Gainesville after a brief illness.
A visitation will be at 1 p.m. on May 19 at Bethel Baptist Church in Nocona. A funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. with Pastor Jerry Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Nocona Cemetery.
She was born to Hubert and Ruby Malone Painter on April 22, 1932 in Wichita Falls. She grew up most of her childhood in Wichita Falls and moved to Nocona during middle school. She graduated from Nocona High School in May 1949 and attended Howard Payne University in Brownwood. She married Paul Bagby Smith in July 1950 and the young couple made their homes in the Kerrville area, Nocona and Bowie. The couple divorced in 1957 and she moved back to Nocona.
She went to work for the Nocona Telephone Company and married Bob Kafer in 1958. The couple made their homes in Wichita Falls, Waurika and Lubbock. During those years, she worked in a variety of office jobs. They divorced after 13 years of marriage and Painter moved back to Nocona where she went to work for the Nocona Boot Company.
She later married Bill Wade and the couple made their home in Alvord. She worked on the family farm helping run the watermelon stand and worked in a ceramic business in Alvord. She also worked many years for the Wise County Tax Office in Decatur. She finished up her major work life with the Denton State School where she worked for nearly 20 years.
After a divorce and retirement she moved back to Nocona where she helped care for elderly patients with a variety of tasks. Painter cared for many children in Bethel Baptist Church as a nursery worker and was active in the Carpenter’s Shop.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Hubert and Ruby Painter; an infant brother; brother, Jerry Painter; sister, Lucia Johnson; son, Joe Bob and daughter, Jena Lesa.
She is survived by her son, Jerry Smith, Valley Mills; daughter, Jane Tettleton, Arlington; 10 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren and host of nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
Memorials may be made to Bethel Baptist Church, the Nocona Senior Citizen’s Center or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements entrusted to Jerry Woods Funeral Home of Nocona.

OBITUARIES

Steven Douglas Drury

Published

6 days ago

07/15/2026

bowienews

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.

OBITUARIES

John Wayne Shelton

Published

6 days ago

07/15/2026

bowienews

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.

OBITUARIES

Weldon Ray Duff

Published

6 days ago

07/15/2026

bowienews

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.