OBITUARIES

Martha Anne Orton

Published

12 years ago

09/16/2014

Martha Anne Orton
August 21, 1942 – September 13, 2014
HOUSTON – Martha Anne Orton Hacker, age 72, passed away on Sept. 13, 2014 making her peaceful transition into God’s loving care. She was released from a two-year struggle with ovarian cancer.
Friends are cordially invited to gather with the family and share remembrances of Anne during a celebration from 5-8 p.m. Sept. 18, in the grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. Please join us for a toast in remembrance to this smiling, loving lady.
At a later date the family will gather for a private memorial service.
Anne was born on August 21, 1942 in the Gainesville hospital, while her family was living in Nocona, TX. She grew up on the Orton Angus Cattle Ranch and Farm in Bellevue, TX with her loving family; parents, Oliver J. Orton and Martha May Johnson Orton; and three sisters, Rebecca, Nancy Elizabeth and Susan.
She attended school in Bellevue and graduated from Bowie High School in Bowie, where she met her husband James L. Hacker, later graduating from the University of Texas in Austin. She was a teacher at Westchester High School and Kingwood High School.
Anne began a new enjoyable and rewarding career in January of 1984 when she became a sales associate representing decorative accessories and home furnishing lines. In January of 1999, until she retired in August of 2008 she was self-employed as an independent manufacturers’ representative serving major furniture retailers, interior design studios, designer showrooms and contract designers. Anne enjoyed her career, the people she worked with and all the many relationships she developed and served.
Anne and Jim had a wonderful time traveling after their 2008 retirements. They are members of and enjoyed attending Unity Church of Houston.
Anne and Jim loved to reflect on the enjoyment of their children; of their growing up with new schools, new friends, church camps and camping all over Colorado and of course, the pleasure of seeing their daughter and son grow into responsible and successful adults with their own loved ones.
Anne is preceded in death by her parents, Oliver J. Orton and Martha May Johnson Orton.
She is survived by her loving husband of nearly 55 years, Jim Hacker, a retired Houston banker; her daughter, Janét Falcone and husband Gregg; and their three sons, Brett, Ross and Christopher; son, Jim A. Hacker and wife Jeanne; her sisters, Rebecca Sikes and husband Robert; Nancy Elizabeth Van Auken and husband Tom; and Susan Friedman and husband Larry; and a fun and enjoyable bunch of nephews and nieces. Haccker obit
Anne was a loving and caring person with a wonderful smile and attitude and will be missed by all.
We would like to thank Dr. Levenback and his team at MD Anderson for their efforts, personal care and friendship. We would also like to thank Houston Hospice for their excellent and thoughtful care. Thanks to all our friends for their prayers and support which helped us through the many challenges we have faced and now, as we feel the loss of this lovely lady.
In lieu of customary remembrances, contributions in Anne’s memory may be directed to the charity of one’s choice.
Paid publication

OBITUARIES

Imogene Dalton Evans

Published

5 days ago

06/19/2026

bowienews

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.
Paid publication

OBITUARIES

Mark Dean Hancock

Published

6 days ago

06/18/2026

bowienews

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.

OBITUARIES

Minnie Allen Walker

Published

6 days ago

06/18/2026

bowienews

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.