OBITUARIES

James Oliver Willoughby

Published

5 months ago

01/29/2025

May 7, 1938 – January 6, 2025
INDIANA – James Oliver Willoughby (Jim), 86, went to his heavenly home on Jan. 6, 2025
The funeral service will be 2 p.m. on Feb. 8 at the Bowie First Methodist Church with fellowship after.
Jim was born May 7, 1938 in Erick, OK to Dorothy and Ralph Willoughby. He was born into a family of horsemen and cattlemen. The family ranched in the Texas Panhandle until moving to Central Missouri in the mid 1940s. He spent his youth learning and honing horsemanship skills, rodeoing and tending cattle. Jim was the Valedictorian of his Booneville High School class in Booneville, MO. Shortly after Jim’s graduation, he was hired by Mr. E Paul Waggoner of Waggoner Ranch fame.
At 18, Jim left home for the life of a professional horse trainer. He carried with him lessons from his Dad and his uncles. With this knowledge, Jim went on to become one of the top trainers in the country. Jim has left a very visible legacy of accomplishments in life and in his chosen profession: the world of western performance horses.
Jim trained horses for every western discipline. He was partly or wholly credited for qualifying 34 head of horses for their American Quarter Horse Association championships between 1956 and 1967. He was one of the formative members of the National Reining Horse Association. Jim’s accomplishments here included Futurity Champion, Reserve Champion and placings of third, two fifth and two seventh, ninth and a 13th. In open competition, he was a champion and also had two third place finishes.
His futurity and open championships came in the same year (1971), a nearly unheard of feat. Possibly his most important NRHA accomplishment is as the author of “A. General,” the definition of a reining horse. This rule has been the defining standard of a reining horse for more than 50 years. Jim was inducted into the NRHA Hall of Fame in 1992 for his vision and leadership.
Jim’s first love was the cutting horse. Essential to cattle management, a cutting horse is trained to separate a single cow from a herd of cattle and prevent it from getting back to the herd. Jim trained hundreds of cutting horses, including National and Affiliate Champions and Reserve Champions, and National Cutting Horse Association Futurity Finalists and Semi-Finalists. With amazing skill, insight, and wisdom, Jim salvaged even more horses from quitting and running off in the cutting pen. Each salvage horse takes steady patience on the part of the trainer and a willingness to recognize and appreciate each horse as an individual. Jim’s dad always said, “Every horse has a key. The trainer just has to be smart enough to figure out what the key is.”
Jim Willoughby found the keys to understanding and training countless horses. Jim never looked at his profession as simply a money-making career. He loved horses, they were his passion. Even as his life was drawing to a close, a conversation about a horse brightened his face and his voice became stronger; authoritative and eager. Jim carried himself with honor and integrity throughout his career. His word was his bond. He left a legacy that one might consider unmatched.
Jim was preceded in death by his mother and father, Dorothy (Dot) Feilner Willoughby and Ralph (Tex) Oliver Willoughby; sister, Glenna Jo Willoughby Wing; brother-in-laws, Larry Wing and Steve Schumaier; and former wife, Lolly Willoughby.
Jim is survived by his wife, Cara Lea; sons, Bronc, Mark (Shorty) and Bruce Willoughby; daughters-in-law, Patti and Dee Dee Willoughby; grandchildren and their spouses, Justin and Michelle Willoughby, Kisten and Levi Jackson, Cassie and Dustin Mitchell; great-grand children, Madison and Hunter Willoughby, Emma and Lucchese Jackson, Laramie and Leddy Mitchell; his brother, Gene Willoughby; sister-in-law, Mary Ann; sister, Jill Willoughby Schumaier; and nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.
Paid publication

OBITUARIES

David Roy Jackson

Published

3 days ago

06/11/2025

bowienews

August 12, 1941 – June 6, 2025
SUNSET – David Roy Jackson, 83, died on June 6, 2025.
The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. on June 9 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
A funeral service took place at 11 a.m. on June 10 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie with Doyle Wade officiating.
He was born on Aug. 12, 1941, in Decatur to Louis Connell and Cleo LaRue (Payne) Jackson. He graduated from Bowie High School in 1959 and soon later joined the National Guard to courageously service his country. All of his life he traveled all over the country as an independent truck driver.
He is preceded in death by his parents; brother, Rob Jackson; and nephews, Kent Jackson and Heath Jackson.
He is survived by his son, Kurt Jackson, Sunset; daughter, Cristi Bolton, Southlake; two grandchildren; one great-grandson; brother, Louie Jackson, Park Springs; three nephews and one niece.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

OBITUARIES

Worth Cornelius Clark

Published

3 days ago

06/11/2025

bowienews

November 1, 1935 – June 5, 2025
BOWIE – Worth Cornelius Clark, 89, died on June 5, 2025.
A visitation took place from 6-8 p.m. on June 11, at White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
A funeral service took place at 11 a.m. on June 12 at the White Family Funeral Home with Jimmy Davis officiating. Burial followed at Alvord Cemetery.
Clark was born in Fort Worth to Worth Douglas Clark and Violet Alvis Linley Clark. He was raised in Tater Hill (Arlington). He married to the love of his life, Adrin Gay Roberson in Fort Worth on Jan. 15, 1954. They raised their four daughters in Arlington. He played softball as a pitcher for Tate Springs Baptist Church, Tarrant Road Baptist Church, American Airlines and Ben E. Keith. He was a carpet installer for 40-plus years.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Worth Douglas Clark and Violet Alvus Linley Clark; sisters, Martha Linda Stevens and Cynthia Gay Pittman; brother, David Eugene Clark; sister-in-law, Lois Marie Clark; brother-in-law, Jean Francois Fehlbaum and grandson, Trace Lee Sexton.
He is survived by his wife, “Babe” of 71 years, Adrin Gay Roberson Clark; sister, Brenda Kay Fehlbaum; two brothers-in-law; daughters, Deborah Ann Martin, Valerie Lynn Bailes, Joni Gayle Clark and Tammy Renee Bolling; 11 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

OBITUARIES

Dean Allen Shaffer

Published

2 weeks ago

05/28/2025

bowienews

June 24, 1962 – May 18, 2025
BOWIE – Dean Allen Shaffer, 62, was escorted to the gates of heaven May 18, 2025 at 12:34 a.m. in the arms of his loving wife Christal Shaffer after complications of pneumonia
A celebration of life for Dean was held at 11 a.m. on May 31 at the First Baptist Church in Alvord followed by a meal for the family.
Dean was born June 24, 1962, in Lander, WY. While quiet and soft spoken, he had a mighty love for the Lord, his wife of 38 years and his family. Dean was an incredibly hard worker, but all who knew Dean also knew how generous he was. He enjoyed cooking outside, hosting get-togethers at their home, having a drink and listening to good music as well as spending time with his bees.
He is preceded in death by his mother-in-law, “Memom” Linda Stevens and loving sister-in-law, Terri Shaffer and sister-in-law, Linda Shaffer.
Dean is survived by his wife, Christal Shaffer; children, Justin Shaffer and wife Kayla, Miles Shaffer, and Ainsley Hernandez and husband Josue; his children in Christ, Chris Lovell, and Andrew Stevens and wife Sutton; grandchildren, Kayden Shaffer and fiancé Nathan Mac, Colton Shaffer and wife Payton, Jaid, Remi, Briggs, Watts, Hutch, Justice and Maverick; great-grandchild, Colter; his parents, James Oliver Shaffer and Alice Bethine; siblings, Randy Shaffer, Cheryl Shaffer and partner Mike Hoffman, Mike Shaffer and wife Kim, Cathey Tewes and husband Andy; numerous other nieces, nephews and family members.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication