COUNTY LIFE
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By DANI BLACKBURN
[email protected]
A local family grieving the loss of their father is trying to save the life of their brother, Clarence James Kittrell, by finding a donor for his failing kidneys.
The 40-year-old currently resides in Paradise with his wife, Lindsey, and six-year-old daughter, Ava, and has family and many friends in the Bowie area.
Kittrell, who goes by “CJ,” attended Bowie Independent School District in elementary and junior high. One of eight siblings, he was a healthy child and teenager, but his life drastically changed when he fell ill at the age of 24. Doctors scrambled to find answers for his failing health.
Near death and weighing less than 100 pounds, his doctor’s physician assistant suggested he be tested for juvenile diabetes. The test results confirmed the diagnosis, just in time to save his life.
“After he graduated he was no longer active in sports. We were told his body was maintaining because he was so active, but after he graduated he was no longer in sports and that is when the diabetes started going out of control,” explained his sister, Wanda Truax, of Bowie. “They never thought to test him for diabetes, but he had it his whole life and we just didn’t know it.”
However, even on his death bed, Kittrell never lost the spark that his family and friends love so dearly.
“He is the life of the family. He is always making jokes and putting everyone in a good mood and he is never in a bad mood. Even on his ‘death bed’, he was trying to make everyone else feel good,” recalled Truax.
Many encouraged Kittrell to draw disability after being so sick, but he took the opposite road.
“I fought it. I told others no and instead I found the hardest job I could working for Patterson Drilling as a hot shot driver working 18 to 20-hour work shifts. My dad told me never give up, and if you are going to do it give it 100 percent every time, so that’s what I do,” explained Kittrell.
Read the full feature on this family in the weekend News.
Pictured above are: CJ Kittrell is shown with his wife Lindsey and daughter Ava. The family waits for a donor kidney for CJ. (Courtesy photo)
COUNTY LIFE
First day of school is getting closer
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Summer is slowly ticking away as the first day of school nears.
First day dates
Aug 6
Gold-Burg ISD
Forestburg ISD
Aug. 7
Bowie ISD
Nocona ISD
Aug. 8
Prairie Valley ISD
Aug. 14
Saint Jo ISD
Aug. 15
Bellevue ISD
See The Bowie News Back to School section this Saturday and next Wednesday with supply lists and other details to help you plan the start of the new year.
COUNTY LIFE
Cash and Cline tribute concert a big hit
COUNTY LIFE
Get ready for July Jam this Saturday night
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For a fun night out make plans to attend the 22nd annual July Jam starting at 6 p.m. on July 27 in the Bowie Community Center West Hall
There will be a “chickin’ pickin’ fiddling fun time” as guests will be entertained by amazing fiddling tunes and enjoy a chicken meal.
Tickets are just $15 with the event starting at 6 p.m. The funds raised help provide awards for the championship fiddler competition during the Oct. 5 Chicken and Bread Days Heritage Festival. The contest attracts talented musicians from all over to visit downtown Bowie to test their fiddling skills.
The event, hosted by Bowie Community Development, will feature a unique array of items up for bid in the silent auction plus a wide variety of homemade jams.
Hosted in conjunction with July Jam is the July Jam Poker Cruise presented by the Piston Heads Auto Club. This event starts at 9 a.m. with a $5 per hand entry and is open to anything with a motor.
The 60-mile cruise with three stops starts in Bowie Plaza and ends in the same location. Half of the proceeds goes to the winning hand with $5 charge for each extra card for hand. Buy as many as each driver would like. The other half of the funds raised goes towards the July Jam fundraising event.
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