OBITUARIES
Evelyn Juanell Haile
September 25, 1939 – February 6, 2026
BOWIE – Evelyn Juanell Haile, 86, slipped into the arms of Jesus on Feb. 6, 2026 at Hospice of Wichita Falls, TX.
The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. on Feb. 11 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
A funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. on Feb. 12 at the First Baptist Church of Bowie with Bro. Mike Henson officiating.
Burial will follow Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie.
Evelyn was born on Sept. 25, 1939 to Rube and Violet Stewart in Proffit, Young County. In 1957, she married Harold Seth Haile. They were happily married for 64 years. He was the love of her life, her business partner and best friend.
Evelyn, along with her husband, Harold, owned and operated Bowie Dozer Service for 33 years, with offices in both Bowie and Decatur.
Evelyn answered to many different names throughout her lifetime; “J” as Harold called her, “Mrs. E” by the Bowie Dozer employees, but “Mom and Nannie” were her favorites.
She will always be remembered for her love of family and the way she made every gathering special but mostly for her life of faith and her love of her Lord Jesus Christ.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Harold S. Haile; parents, Rube and Violet Stewart; and grandson, Chris Darden.
Evelyn is survived by her daughter, Lesia Darden and husband, Roy; son, Craig Haile and wife, Kim; grandchildren, Landon Sims and wife Erika, Leah Walton and husband Rob, Matt Haile and wife Elizabeth, Kayla Burnett and husband Wes, Larry Don Byas and Nikki Sosa; great-grandchildren, Addy Sims, Brody Sims, Delainey Walton, Hadleigh Walton, McKinley Walton, Eloise Haile, Hattie, Haile, Sophie Haile, Numa Burnett, Wells Burnett, Banks Burnett, Garrett Darden, Ella Darden, Bailey Young and husband Klay, Bella Sosa and Jaiden Brown; brother, Leroy Stewart; sister-in-law, Betty Weimer; and a host of nieces and nephews.
The family would like to extend their gratitude to Mylea Wadsworth, Tina Betts and the nurses at Hospice of Wichita Falls for their love and care during her illness.
Memorials may be made in honor of Evelyn to the Bowie Mission at 201 E. Greenwood, Bowie, TX 76230, or Hospice of Wichita Falls at 4909 Johnson Rd., Wichita Falls, TX 76310
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.
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