OBITUARIES
Rev. Larry Barlow
Rev. Larry Barlow
January 18, 1942 – June 26, 2017
Bowie—The Rev. Larry Barlow, 75, met his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, face to face on June 26, 2017.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. June 29 at First Baptist in Bowie with the Rev. Mike Henson officiating.
A graveside service will be at 10:15 a.m. June 30 at DFW National Cemetery with the Rev. Tom Merritt officiating.
Larry was born on Jan. 18, 1942 in Fitchburg, MA and moved to Texas in 1954 with his mother Grace Smith Barlow and his father Lee Adrian Barlow.
He graduated from Wayland Baptist College with a bachelor’s degree in psychology in 1968 and in 1973 Larry received his masters of divinity from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. He later went on to earn his doctorate of theology from California Graduate School in 1984 and a masters of arts in education from New Mexico State University in 1997.
As a Southern Baptist preacher, he was the pastor of churches in Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona and New Mexico for 40 years. Larry taught special education in Anthony, NM for several years. He retired from the pastorate in 2008 and moved to Bowie to be near his sister, Pamela Barlow, DVM.
Larry was an active member of the First Baptist Church in Bowie where he led the singing for his Sunday school class and also sang in the choir. He and his wife Janet were involved in many of the activities with senior adult group. Larry was also active with the Bowie Senior Citizens Center, Friends of the Library and the Hospice Store in Bowie. He was a big science fiction fan, loved to garden, and Larry and his wife loved to go on family cruises.
He leaves behind his wife of 55 years, Janet Barlow; daughter, Karyn Barlow, Rio Rancho, NM, who was the apple of his eye; granddaughter, Kaitlyn Barlow, Albuquerque, NM, who was his princess, studing performance arts at UNM; sisters, Sandy Rewis and her husband Earl, Richmond Hills, GA, Pamela Barlow, DVM, Bowie and Vanessa Akin and her husband Pogo, Stafford, VA; sister-in-law, Judy Hughes and her husband Hal; niece, Kathy Hughes, Austin; and nephew, Clint Hughes and his wife Jessica, Oakdale, MN.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to the exceptional staff of Solaris and Advanced Rehab for their wonderful compassionate care of my husband and myself.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Building Fund of First Baptist Church and/or to the American Cancer Society.
Paid publication
Hawkins Funeral Home
Decatur, TX | 940-627-5959 | www.hawkinsfuneralhome.com
June 24, 1962 – May 18, 2025
BOWIE – Dean Allen Shaffer, 62, was escorted to the gates of heaven May 18, 2025 at 12:34 a.m. in the arms of his loving wife Christal Shaffer after complications of pneumonia
A celebration of life for Dean was held at 11 a.m. on May 31 at the First Baptist Church in Alvord followed by a meal for the family.
Dean was born June 24, 1962, in Lander, WY. While quiet and soft spoken, he had a mighty love for the Lord, his wife of 38 years and his family. Dean was an incredibly hard worker, but all who knew Dean also knew how generous he was. He enjoyed cooking outside, hosting get-togethers at their home, having a drink and listening to good music as well as spending time with his bees.
He is preceded in death by his mother-in-law, “Memom” Linda Stevens and loving sister-in-law, Terri Shaffer and sister-in-law, Linda Shaffer.
Dean is survived by his wife, Christal Shaffer; children, Justin Shaffer and wife Kayla, Miles Shaffer, and Ainsley Hernandez and husband Josue; his children in Christ, Chris Lovell, and Andrew Stevens and wife Sutton; grandchildren, Kayden Shaffer and fiancé Nathan Mac, Colton Shaffer and wife Payton, Jaid, Remi, Briggs, Watts, Hutch, Justice and Maverick; great-grandchild, Colter; his parents, James Oliver Shaffer and Alice Bethine; siblings, Randy Shaffer, Cheryl Shaffer and partner Mike Hoffman, Mike Shaffer and wife Kim, Cathey Tewes and husband Andy; numerous other nieces, nephews and family members.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
April 3, 1929 – May 20, 2025
BOWIE – Betty Sue Bynum, 96, passed away on May 20, 2025 in Nocona, TX.
Betty was born on April 3, 1929 in Thornton to Thomas Everett and Eva May Stiff Hardaway. She attended elementary school in Van Alstyne and attended high school in Calvert. She graduated from Teachers College High School and continued on to North Texas State Teacher’s College graduating with a bachelor of arts, library science degree at age 20. In 1977, she continued her education obtaining a master of education degree at University of North Texas.
While attending college, Betty met her future husband, Floyd Arthur Bynum. Betty wanted to work and live on her own for a year before getting married, so they had a long distance courtship while she taught school for a year in Canyon, Texas. They decided they were meant for each other and married on Aug. 5, 1950 in McKinney.
After starting their family in 1951, Betty and Floyd moved to Bowie where Floyd was industrial arts teacher at Bowie High School. Betty was a stay-at-home mom for few years. In 1960, she restarted her teaching career, teaching sixth grade for many years, eventually moving to high school where she was librarian until her retirement in 1988. She was a lifetime member of TSTA and a member of TLA.
Betty is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Alma Lou Perkins and husband, Floyd A. Bynum.
Betty is survived by her three daughters, Nancy Headley, (Douglas), Jean Richards (John) and Patricia Johnson (Craig), grandchildren, Heather Morse, Alicia Hutchison, Jennifer Holloman, Justin Richards, Steven Johnson and Brian Johnson; seven great grandchildren and two nieces, Suzanne Scott and Dianne Herr.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie, TX.
Paid publication
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.
-
NEWS3 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS2 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS2 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS2 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS2 years agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS2 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS2 years agoBowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS3 years ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint