OBITUARIES

Edna Rhe Hickman

Published

2 months ago

09/24/2024

October 17, 1936 – September 18, 2024
WACO – Edna Rhe Hickman, 87, went home to be with our Lord and Savior on Sept. 18, 2024. Edna dedicated her life to her family and friends.
We will celebrate her life with a memorial service at 2 p.m. on Sept. 28 at Grace Gardens Funeral Home Chapel in Waco with the Rev. Steve Ramsdell officiating. A burial service will be at 2 p.m. on Sept. 26 at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie with the Rev. Lou Tiscione officiating.
Edna was born in Newport, TX on Oct. 17, 1936 to Fred “Dunk” and Mary Jo Cordell. Growing up in Newport, she attended schools in Bowie participating in numerous social and school activities including choir, band and homemaking, receiving several honors and awards. She graduated from Bowie High School in 1954. After high school, she attended Midwestern State University on a voice scholarship. Edna had a beautiful voice and was invited to sing on many occasions.
She was blessed with two children and they were raised in Wichita Falls and in Austin. In these cities she made lifelong friends. She enjoyed worship on Sundays and spending time with friends. In Austin, she was a volunteer at Seton Hospital and then worked in real estate. She remarried in 1990 to Don Hickman. Moving to Pampa, she continued to make close friends and participated in several organizations including First Christian Church.
In 2013 she moved to Waco to be closer to her daughter’s family. She was active at Central United Methodist Church and bible studies. Her love of the Lord showed in her excitement to worship in song. She enjoyed listening to classic hymns. She loved to attend her grandchildren’s activities and was their biggest fan.
Edna enjoyed shopping for clothes, spending time with friends and talking on the phone. She loved to entertain and decorate for any season or occasion. She was renowned for saying “favorite color is animal print.” She was an avid Texas Longhorn fan and was known to wear her burnt orange on game days. She loved sweets – especially peanut M&Ms and butter pecan ice cream. She and her son even hid the Haagen Daas Rum Raisin ice cream from each other in the freezer while he was a teen. She loved to “up in the bed” with her grandkids – snack, play games and laugh. She exuded joy and happiness and was known always as the glass is half full type of person. Her positivity was contagious and her smile will be forever remembered.
Her biggest joys were her family – especially her grandbabies. She was a true and treasured gift and will be deeply missed by everyone she knew.
Edna is preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, Don Hickman; nephew, Russell Cordell and step son-in-law, Tim Hucks.
She is survived by her son, Lee Scott Kelley and wife Taresa, Brock; daughter, Krispen Thielepape and husband Sam, Hewitt; two stepsons, Mike Hickman and wife Ronda, Casper WY and Kelley Hickman, Pampa; two step daughters, Debra Hucks, Amarillo and Sherry Smith and husband Randall, Pace, FL; five grandchildren, Morgan Brittain and husband Ben, Ocean Springs, MS, Logan Thielepape, Hewitt, Joshua and Trevor Kelley, Brock and Jessica Brown, Fort Worth; six step-grandchildren; Tanner Hucks and wife Kirsten, Frisco, Zach Hucks, Amarillo, Kendall Hickman, Casper, WY and Becca Watt and husband Colton, Newcastle, WY, Jayme Lambert and husband Jared, Little Elm and Tori Ritthaler, Lewisville;10 step-great grandchildren; brother, Lee Cordell and wife Ruthie, Bowie; sister in law, Joyce Hickman, Bowie; nephew, Yancy Cordell and wife Darla; niece, Tracy Ashley and husband Steve and former spouse, Hubert Kelley, Austin.
Honorary pallbearers include Logan Thielepape, Joshua Kelley, Trevor Kelley and Ben Brittain.
The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Right at Home, The Blake – Waco and Gentiva Hospice, especially Teresa Dixon and Valarie Adams for the exceptional care, friendship and love you gave to our mom the last few years of her life.
In lieu of flowers, memorials contributions may be made to the Team Gleason Foundation, which exists to help aid those with ALS and eventually provide a cure, at teamgleason.org.
Arrangements entrusted to Grace Gardens Funeral Home of Waco.

Paid publication

OBITUARIES

Gloria Kay Bell

Published

2 days ago

11/19/2024

bowienews

October 23, 1946 – November 15, 2024
Little River-Academy, TX – Gloria Kay Bell, 78, went home to be with the Lord on Nov. 15, 2024.
A funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. on Nov. 21 at the Saint Peter Lutheran Church in Bowie with the Rev. Lavern Janssen and the Rev. Mark DeYoung officiating. Burial will follow at Hopewell Cemetery in Stoneburg. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.
Gloria was born on Oct. 23, 1946 in Bowie to Russell and Linda (Roth) Johnson. She married the love of her life, Ronnie Bell on July 5, 1969 at St. Peter Lutheran Church, where she also was baptized and confirmed. Ronnie and Gloria shared 55 happy years together.
Gloria loved little children and her family. She loved to sing, participating in school choirs and also church choirs where she attended worship. She also loved to paint, selling several paintings and having her artwork displayed in galleries. People from all over are still enjoying her talent.
She retired from First Financial Bank of Abilene where she worked in several different departments which kept her on her toes, but she loved her job and working with the public.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
Gloria is survived by her husband, Ronnie Bell, Little River-Academy, TX; son, Brian Bell and wife Shanna, Wagoner, OK; daughter, Lori Johnson and husband Brandon, Winchester, KY; brother, Steven Johnson and wife Joslon, Nocona; sister, Doria Counts and husband James, Graham; grandchildren, Hailey Bell and Hayden Bell and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

Paid publication

OBITUARIES

Rhonda Duncan Ford

Published

2 days ago

11/19/2024

bowienews

August 15, 1951 – November 15, 2024
NOCONA – Rhonda Duncan Ford, 73, died Nov. 15, 2024.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 20 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A graveside service will be at noon Nov. 21 at the Joy Cemetery, 8830 Old Joy Shannon Rd, Henrietta, TX 76365, with Bro. Rex Cobb officiating
She was born on Aug. 15, 1951, to J.M. and June Duncan in Amarillo. She attended Vernon Regional Junior College obtaining her nursing license as a licensed vocational nurse. She worked for many years at nursing homes around Bowie. In the 90’s she went to work for Dr. Len Dingler in Nocona and the Nocona General Hospital for a while. She married Bobby Ford on Aug. 10, 1979.
She is preceded in death by her parents, J.M Duncan and June Duncan; her husband of 41 years, Bobby Lee Ford; sister, Gail Schenk; daughter, Teresa Quillen nd newborn son, Floyd Alan Ford.
She is survived by children, Kenneth Ford, David Ford, Clarissa Fletcher and Amie Mankhambira; one son-in-law; 14 grandchildren; sisters, Jamie Baack, Mica Duncan Thomas and Sharla Gallion; one sister-in-law and many great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

OBITUARIES

Melvin David Corley

Published

2 days ago

11/19/2024

bowienews

December 20, 1936 – November 16, 2024
NOCONA – Melvin David Corley, 87, died Nov. 16, 2024 at his home.
A visitation was at 10 a.m. on Nov. 19 at The First Baptist Church in Nocona. A funeral service followed at 11 a.m. Interment was at the Nocona cemetery.
He was born Dec. 20, 1936 in Joy, TX to Clifton and Pearl (Browning) Corley. He attended Midway and Wichita Falls Old High School. He moved to Nocona in 1954 and graduated with the class of 1955. At Nocona High School he met Minnie Kerr and the couple married at Northside Baptist Church on Sept. 21, 1956.
He served in the military and when discharged on Aug. 11, 1965, he was a Staff Sergeant E6 with Troop A Second Squadron 124 Calvary. He was Nocona Boot Company supervisor for more than 30 years and a licensed realtor. He was a member of Northside Landmark Missionary Baptist Church where he served as deacon, director of music and Sunday School superintendent. He also obtained an associate degree from North Central Texas College.
Corley is past worshipful master of the Nocona Lodge #753 and past worthy patron of the Order of the Eastern Star Chapter #62. In his active years he was a Scottish Rite and a member of the Maskat Shrine Temple in Wichita Falls. He also served as chairman of the board for the Rainbow Girls. He coached the Nocona Boot Company little league baseball team and led them to receive the first-place trophy. He served as official scorekeeper for the girl’s softball league and was a cub scout master for troop 108.
He is proceeded in death by his parents, Clifton and Pearl Corley; sisters, Patsy Whitsitt and Mary Jo Murry; brothers, Dale Corley and Steve Corley one niece and one great-granddaughter.
He is survived by his wife, Minnie Corley; daughter, Carol Patterson; son, John Corley; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews, family members and lots of friends.
Memorial donations may be made to the Northside Landmark Missionary Baptist Church of Nocona.
Arrangements entrusted to Jerry Woods Funeral Home of Nocona.