OBITUARIES
Francisco Esparza

Francisco Esparza
March 9, 1927 – March 2, 2016
BOWIE – Francisco Esparza, 88, died March 2, 2016 in Bowie, TX.
The family received friends at 6 p.m. March 4 with a rosary that followed at 7 p.m. at the St. William Catholic Church.
A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. March 5 at the St. William Catholic Church in Montague. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery.
He was born March 9, 1927 in Aguascalientes, Mexico to Macario and Petra (Silva) Esparza. He married Maria Sanchez in 1959 and was married for 57 years.
Esparza was a policeman in Zaragoza, Mexico in his 30s. They moved to Texas where he worked as a ranch hand in Montague and Wise Counties for more than 40 years.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Macario and Petra Esparza; brothers and sisters, Porfirio Esparza, Bonifacio Esparza, Amalia Esparza, Josefina Esparza and Samuel Esparza; sons, Francisco Rios and Samuel Esparza; daughter, Gloria Ester Esparza; daughter-in-law, Maria Rios and son-in-law, Margarito Hernandez.
He is survived by his wife, Maria Esparza, Bowie; children, Juana Yolanda Castro and Beto Sanchez, Missouri, Elias Lira, Bowie, Jorge Lira, Bowie, Francisco Esparza, Bridgeport, Norma Alicia Esparza, Decatur, Maria Gloria Hernandez, Bowie, Andrea Esparza Rivas, Denton, Macario Esparza, Bowie and Jesus Humberto Esparza, Decatur; numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great-grandchildren; daughter-in-law, Josefina Esparza, Mexico; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements have been entrusted to The White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
OBITUARIES
Pedro Leon Olvera

May 19, 1976 – May 11, 2025
NOCONA – Pedro Leon Olvera, 48, died on May 11, 2025.
There was a rosary at 6 p.m. on May 18 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel in Nocona. A funeral service was at noon on May 19 at St. Jospeh’s Catholic Church in Nocona.
He was born on May 19, 1976 in Celya, Mexico Guanajuato to Juan Olvera and Felixa Leon. Olvera was a part of a big family and hard-worker all of his life. He worked mostly in agriculture as a rancher. He loved working on cars in his spare time, especially with his son. He married Blanca Torres in 1995 in Celya, Mexico Guanajuato.
He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Rosa and Juana Gomez; and nephew, Juan Gomez Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Blanca Olvera; Nocona; son, Pedro Jr. Olvera, Nocona; daughter, Mariana Hampton, Gainesville; sisters, Yolanda, Nocona and Margarita, Mexico; brothers, Juan, Luis, Santiago and Francisco, all of Mexico; a grandson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
OBITUARIES
Shirley Ann Mayo Graves

July 23, 1949 – May 17, 2025
NOCONA – Shirley Ann Mayo Graves, 75, died on May 17, 2025 in Plano, TX.
There was a visitation from 1 p.m. until time of service on May 21 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel in Nocona. A funeral service followed at 2 p.m. at Jerry Woods Chapel officiated by Brother Ricky Kerr. Interment followed in Nocona Cemetery. Pallbearers were Frank Tuggle, Mike Martin, Mark Murphey, Hank Reed, Ralph Conner and Tommy Mayo.
She was born on July 23, 1949 in Electra to Carl E. Mayo and Margie Childress Mayo. She worked at the Burger Barn for more than 11 years in Nocona. She was a Christian and a member of Landmark Missionary Baptist Church in Saint Jo. She married Richard Graves on April 17, 1969 in Nocona.
Shirley was preceded in death by her parents and son, Michael Lee Graves.
She is survived by her husband, Richard Graves, Nocona; children, Bill Graves, Nocona and Lori Hernandez, Wichita Falls; brothers, Albert Mayo, Vernon, Jackie Mayo, Dallas and Tommy Mayo, Breckenridge; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Landmark Missionary Baptist Church, 242 FM 677, Saint Jo, TX 76265 or The Capenter’s Shop, 400 Boston, Nocona, TX 76255.
OBITUARIES
Robert Edward Adams Jr.

August 14, 1952 – May 5, 2025
RICHARDSON – Robert Edward Adams, Jr., 73,
died on May 5, 2025 in Richardson, TX.
A memorial service was at 2 p.m. on May 10 at
Trinity Christian Academy in Addison.
He born on Aug. 14, 1952 in Ashtabula, OH to
Robert Edward Adams, Sr. and Janet Morehouse
Adams. At the age of 10, his mother sent him to a
Christian boy’s camp, Deerfoot Lodge, in the Adirondack
mountains just north of Speculator, NY.
Adams graduated from Colorado State University
in 1976 with a bachelor of science in natural resources.
He remained in Colorado for several years
teaching before moving to Dallas.
In 1984, he received his master of science in
education and biology from North Texas State University.
After receiving his master’s, he began a 35-
year career teaching at Trinity Christian Academy
in Addison. He taught biology I and II, and taught
the marine and field ecology curriculums in both the
middle and high school. In his early TCA years, he
coached football and wrestling. In March of 1988,
he married Rhonda Ice Adams. Subsequently, they
were blessed with three daughters, Aubrey, Brianna
and Autumn.
He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Rhonda;
children, Aubrey Fults, Brianna Hein and Autumn
Adams; three grandchildren; and sister, Ruthie
Shook.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations
be made to Trinity Christian Academy’s
Student Tuition Aid program or Deerfoot Lodge.
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