OBITUARIES

Abel Waddill Cline, Jr.

Published

9 years ago

03/01/2016

Abel Waddill Cline, Jr.
July 24, 1925 – February 25, 2016
LOUISIANA – Abel Waddill Cline, Jr., 90, died Feb. 25, 2016.
According to his wishes he was cremated. He requested no service or memorial be had. His ashes will be spread in the same location as those of his late wife, Jane.
He was born July 24, 1925 to Abel Waddill Cline and Florence Wilbert Cline in Plaquemine, LA where he spent many happy summers. He was raised, with his older brother George in Bowie. He attended Bowie High School and graduated in 1943.
He enlisted in the U. S. Army, was assigned to an engineering unit, and trained at Texas A&M before being deployed.
His unit built roads and bridges for Allied advancement and helped in the start of the rebuilding of Europe. He mustered out a Sergeant in communications in 1946.
He attended North Texas State College in Denton where he received a bachelor of accounting and later a master of education. While there he met Jane Loftis whom he married in 1949.
He and Jane built a house on Idiot’s Hill in Denton and during the years filled it with children. He taught both math and driver’s education at Denton Junior High School and was part owner of The Denton Commercial Print Shop.
He spent many years as a sofa referee for the high school football games in Denton County. Until his health disallowed it, he was an avid pilot and flew his own Piper Tri Pacer.
In 2015 he created the Anton Wilbert foundation to give back to the city of Plaquemine, LA and named it in honor of his great grandfather whose legacy enriched his life. He loved dogs and public television.
He is survived by all his children, Sarah (Sally), Kay, her husband, Steve and their children, Christa and Mark, Abel III and his children, David and Pam, Martha, Virginia and her son, Michael, Gretchen, Amanda, Priscilla and her husband, Noel, and their children, A.J., Zac and Ethan, and, David and his children, Austin and Alaina.
His family wants to thank and is deeply grateful to Dr. Emmanuel Desai in Lewisville for his extensive care and treatment of their father/grandfather through the years; and also to thank Dr. Gregory F. Kozielec in Denton for helping him keep his eyesight.
In lieu of flowers his family requests any donations be sent to one’s local animal shelter, local public television station, or to the Anton Wilbert Foundation, P.O. Box 694, Plaquemine, LA 70764.
Paid publication

Arrangements entrusted to

Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home
740 S. Edmonds, Lewisville, TX | 972.436.4581

OBITUARIES

Wade Shelton

Published

2 weeks ago

05/07/2025

bowienews

November 24, 1929 – April 28, 2025
NOCONA – Wade Shelton, 95, died on April 28, 2025 in Bowie.
A visitation was at 11 a.m. on May 3 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service followed at 2 p.m. at the gazebo at Molsbee Chapel Cemetery on May 5 officiated by Pastor Phillip Weitner.
He was born on Nov. 24, 1929 in Nocona to Walter Shelton and Mildred Kidwell Shelton. He was a hard-worker most of his life working mostly as an industrial machine mechanic and also managing the drive-in movie theater in Nocona. He was a member, deacon and sometimes ministered at Molsbee Chapel Church of the Brethren. He married Thelma Wright on Nov. 24, 1956 in Lubbock. She preceded him in death in 2012.
He is preceded in death by his wife; parents; brothers, Weldon Shelton and Paul Shelton; and sisters, Oleta and Bonnie Baggett.
He is survived by his children, Serina Thomas, Bowie, John Shelton, Sunset and Steve Holcomb, Nocona; four grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.

OBITUARIES

Fern Hollaway Caswell

Published

2 weeks ago

05/07/2025

bowienews

July 7, 1925 – April 28, 2025
BOWIE – Fern Hollaway Caswell passed on April 28, 2025 at the age of exactly 99 years, nine months and three weeks.
A graveside service took place at 11 a.m. on May 1 at Sunset Cemetery in Sunset with Doyle Wade officiating.
Fern was born at her parents’ home just outside of Sunset on July 7, 1925, she was the youngest child and only daughter of J. A. (Jim) Hollaway and Arah Sigler Hollaway. Growing up with three older brothers, she learned quite early on how to hold her own when faced with difficulties. She graduated from Sunset High School as the salutatorian of the Class of 1941. While in school, she was a talented and celebrated volleyball player on winning teams coached by J. I. (Speck) Caswell, the man who would eventually become her husband of 48 years.
Before her marriage, Fern worked at what is now known as the North Texas State Hospital, Wichita Falls Campus, first on the wards and eventually in the business office. After her marriage, the birth of the couple’s children, and the family’s move to Alvord in 1954, she devoted herself to rearing her daughters and working alongside her husband on the family ranch.
After the girls left home, she worked for the Lorch Company, managing their outlet stores in Decatur and Gainesville until the company closed. After her husband’s death, she began a long and varied career at DFW International Airport, driving carts and working in customs and security, all jobs which clearly suited her love of people watching. After getting up at 2 a.m. and driving to the airport three days a week for many years, she eventually retired at 89. Regardless of when and where she was working, she was always Granny and always available to the grandsons and great grandchildren she adored.
An excellent seamstress, Fern had a strong work ethic and a keen fashion sense, both of which she imparted to her daughters. An avid reader of biographies, she was also a lover of all animals, particularly Siamese cats. A longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Alvord, she also served as the District President of the Parent-Teachers Association of Texas.
Fern was predeceased by her husband; parents; three brothers, Berniece, Clay and Harold Hollaway; niece, Deanna Hollaway Hooper and great-niece, Tonya Davis Wallum.
She is survived by her daughters and their spouses, Lana Caswell-Garcia and H.S. (Bert) Garcia, Sherman and Karen Caswell Fowler and Donald Fowler, Chico; grandsons, Wes Fowler, and Kase Fowler and his wife Leslie Bain Fowler, all of Alvord; and great grandchildren, Rachae Fowler Richey and her husband Senior Airman Hunter Richey, Colorado Springs and Keegan Fowler, Alvord; nephews, Billy Dean Hollaway and his wife Sheri, North Little Rock, AR, Bernis Hollaway, Carr, CO and Bruce Hollaway, Buena Vista, AR; and several great and great-great-nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication

OBITUARIES

Gary Leo Fergueson

Published

4 weeks ago

04/23/2025

bowienews

November 11, 1944 – April 19, 2025
BELLEVUE – Gary Leo Fergueson, 80, died on April 19, 2025.
A graveside service will take place at 11 a.m. on April 24 at Vashti Cemetery with Michael Brannon and Jeff Brannon officiating.
He was born on Nov. 11, 1944 to Vera (Chappell) and Lewis Fergueson. He worked in the food and grocery industry at multiple store chains beginning in Fort Worth and ending in Bowie. He also worked as a rancher at his family farm in Vashti. Fergueson proudly served his country in the United States Army, he completed his basic training in San Fransico and was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Alta Fergueson Brannon.
He is survived by his nephew, Jeff Brannon; niece, Krista Brannon Blackrock; brother-in-law Michael Brannon and a very special friend of 60 years, Helen Ulbig.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.