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OBITUARIES

Paula Ann (Byrom) Gilliland

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May 16, 1938 – November 5, 2025
CANYON – Paula Ann (Byrom) Gilliland, 87, passed on Nov. 5, 2025.
The service for Paula was at 10 a.m. on Nov. 7 at Brooks Funeral Chapel in Canyon. Graveside service was at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at the Archer City Cemetery in Archer City.
Paula was born on May 16, 1938, in Archer City to parents Cecil Mart Byrom and Opal Faye Edge Byrom. Paula grew up in Montague County, attending school in Stoneburg before moving to Bowie for all four years at high school. She graduated from Bowie High School in 1956, maintaining friendships with many of her classmates throughout their lives. Paula then attended Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls before earning her bachelor’s degree in education at Baylor University in 1970.
Paula met the love of her life, Edward Gilliland at Bowie HS. The two were classmates, being matched up by their best friends Paul Martin and Nell Hoffman Martin. They married on Jan. 25, 1958 in Bowie with Paul and Nell serving as bestman and matron of honor. They were married 58 years at the time of Ed’s passing on Dec. 28, 2016.
Paula and Ed were especially proud Bowie Jackrabbits and attended many class reunions in Bowie, enjoying each opportunity to visit with friends. Of special note, Nell Hoffman Martin was Paula’s best friend since they were two months old and stayed best friends until Nell’s passing in 2024.
Paula taught elementary school in Childress, Follett, Waka, Lefors and Petrolia for a total of 29 years. She loved her students and kept all pictures given to her by students, often writing their name, school and year on the back of the picture.
The Gillilands loved to travel, taking multiple cross country road trips and special trips to Alaska and Hawaii. They took many of those trips with Travis and Carol Gilliland around the country.
Paula was a member of Bell Avenue Church of Christ in Amarillo and loved her church family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers, Cecil (Sonny) Byrom and Billy (Dale) Byrom, and husband, Ed.
Paula and Ed are survived by their three children and their spouses, Mark (Kaye), Canyon, Tim (Laurie), Canyon, and Rebekah (Dan) Buis, Niceville, FL; eight grandchildren, Tyler, Travis, Elizabeth, Ben, Megan, Sarah, Jake and Alyssa; two great-grandchildren, Addison and Samuel; and several nieces and nephews.
Mom lived her final years at Conner Court Assisted Living facility in Canyon. The family sends their love and thanks for the special care given by all the good people at Conner Court.
In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Bell Avenue Church of Christ, 1600 Bell St. Amarillo, TX 79106.
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Brooks Funeral Directors
(806) 655-2111 | 1702 5th Ave. Canyon, TX 79015

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OBITUARIES

Imogene Dalton Evans

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November 28,1928 – June 9, 2026
DENTON – Imogene Dalton Evans, 97, passed away on June 9, 2026.
A visitation will begin at 1 p.m. on June 20 at DeBerry Funeral Home and at 2 p.m. the funeral service will follow. A grave side service will immediately follow at Roselawn Memorial Park 3801 Roselawn Dr., Denton.
Imogene Dalton Evans was born on Nov. 28, 1928 in Coleman County Texas to Samuel and Effie Clara Dalton. She was raised on the family farm and ranch near Gouldbusk attending local schools and graduating high school from Mozelle High School.
Growing up she worked in the fields and with the cattle and sheep alongside her brothers. She gained a great work ethic that stayed with her throughout her life. She felt blessed to have three careers. She worked with her husband Joe Evans in their plumbing, heating and air conditioning business. After it was sold because of Joe’s health, she returned to college to finish her education, receiving a BS degree from North Texas State University (now UNT) and a master’s degree from Texas Woman’s University. She began work as a county extension agent in Montague County, retiring in 1991. She moved back to Denton and began a career in real estate in 1993.
Family was extremely important to her. After working all day she would work at night canning and freezing food from the family’s garden. One of her sayings she will be remembered for is a quote “waste not, want not.”
She was proceeded in death by her husband, Joe B. Evans in 1991; daughter, Regina Pitt in 2011; son, Joe B. Evans Jr. in 2015; daughter, Sharon Griffith in 2023; parents and three brothers.
She is survived by her grandsons, Scott Griffith, Fort Worth, Chad (Milly) Griffith, Dallas and “Trey” (Julie) Joe B. Evans III, Bowie; granddaughters, Lindsay (Kyle) Coker, Dallas, Shannon (James) Mares, Krum, and Lydia Evans, Bowie; great-grandchildren, Case Janopoulos, Krum, Emarie Evans, Bowie, Harper and Ellis Griffith, Dallas, Jack Griffith, Fort Worth, Berkleigh and Reagan Mares, Krum, and Collins and Myer Coker, Dallas; sister, Anna Walker, Saginaw; and nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrust to DeBerry Funeral Home, Denton.
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OBITUARIES

Mark Dean Hancock

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June 21, 1958 – June 10, 2026
NOCONA – Mark Dean Hancock, 67, died on June 10, 2026.
A memorial service will be from 2-4 p.m. on June 28 at the Turquoise Owl in Nocona.
He and his twin, Mike, were born on June 21, 1958, in Gainesville to Harvey F. Hancock and Jean (Hancock) Shears. He graduated from Nocona High School in 1976. He also attended North Texas University. He had several careers in his lifetime—the Boys’ State School in Gainesville, Tucker Rocky Distributing and numerous oilfield companies.
He is preceded in death by his parents; a half-sister and grandparents.
He is survived by two sons, Ben Hancock and Sam Hancock; brothers, Harvey Hancock and Mike Hancock; sisters, Kathy Tomlinson and Patty Crabtree; two grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews; and great-nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.

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OBITUARIES

Minnie Allen Walker

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January 20, 1938 – June 12, 2026
BOWIE – Minnie Allen Walker, 88 years, 4 months, and 23 days old died June 12, 2026.
There was a visitation from 5-6 p.m. on June 14 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel.
A funeral service took place at 2 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church on June 15. Interment followed in Ringgold Cemetery.
She was born Jan. 20, 1938, to Clarence and Eunice Allen in Ardmore, OK on what had once been reservation land. She was the only one of nine children to be born in a hospital. She graduated from Prairie Valley High School, where she played basketball and volleyball.
In 1959, she married her soulmate, Jerry Walker, and they built their extended family over the next 56 years. She worked for Dude’s Duds briefly, and at the Ford dealership in Nocona for many years. She served as Nocona City secretary and then as Nocona City manager, retiring in 2005 after a total of 23 years. The Walkers lost Jerry in 2018, and she moved to Independence Hall in Bowie a few years ago.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Walker; parents; and siblings, Alice Harper, Sam, Doie and David Allen.
She is survived by her three daughters, Karen Walker, Linda Wickersham and Kathy Sayers; three step-daughters; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sisters, Joan Tettleton and Barbara Ice; and many nieces and nephews.
She had a lifelong love of flowers, so flowers to remember her are welcome or donate to the Carpenter Shop, 400 Boston St., Nocona, TX 76255.
Arrangements entrusted to Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.

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