OBITUARIES

Odis A. Davis

Published

8 years ago

07/14/2017

Odis A. Davis
January 10, 1927 – July 14, 2017
NOCONA – Odis A. Davis, 90, died on July 14 in Nocona.
The funeral was at 10 a.m. on July 15 at Bethel Baptist Church in Nocona. Family visitation took place from 6 to 7 p.m. on July 14 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel.
Burial followed at Nocona Cemetery with Brian Spivey officiating.
Davis was born Jan. 10, 1927, in Courtney, OK to the late Ben and Mattie (Norvell) Davis. He married Mary Lou Robinson on June 2, 1944, at Marietta.
Odis and Mary Lou are the parents of three children: Twin sons Ronnie and Donnie, and another son Jerry Dan. Ronnie lives in Nocona, as do Donnie with wife Carrie, and Jerry Dan with wife LaDonna. Odis and Marylou are the grandparents of six grandchildren: Shawn Davis, Jarret Davis, Branda McEwen, Erica Patton, Zachary Smith, and Kristyn Starnes. They also are proud great-grandparents of 16 great grandchildren: Henley and Samuel Davis, Jase, Bodie, and Ava Davis, Kaden, Mattie, Gabby, and John McEwen, Ayden, Corbyn, and Dani Patton, Skyler and Bayler Smith, and Ryker Starnes to whom he is survived by, along with his wife of 73 year MaryLou and sister Lawana Forsythe of Wilson, OK.
Odis was preceded in death by his parents Ben and Mattie, siblings Jim Davis, Edith Davis Watkins, Lillian Davis Houge, Stanford Davis, Eldon ‘Bud’ Davis and beloved daughter-in-law Mary Beckman Davis.
In their younger years, Odis and Marylou lived in Courtney, where they farmed cotton until boll weevils demolished their livelihood. They then took all the money they had and moved to San Jose, CA, where they worked in an onion processing plant.
Although they had some family living there in California, the couple was unhappy being so far from the majority of their family in southern Oklahoma. They stayed in California just long enough to earn enough money to move back to Oklahoma.
In 1950, they moved across the Red River from Courtney to Nocona, where Odis secured a job with Union Tank Company. He worked for this company until 1959.
Working for “Union Tank” meant good pay; but when the company decided to move its headquarters, Odis knew he would be transferred. He and Mary Lou were very satisfied living in Nocona and had no desire to leave. So in 1959, they sold their new home and car and invested the money in their own business, LP. Gas Company, which is still in operation today under the management of their youngest son Jerry Dan and grandson Jarret.
Odis and Mary Lou also bought and operated another business, Nocona Hot Oil Service, which they sold in 1987. Throughout the years, Odis has always been a staunch backer of his children’s endeavors, many community activities, functions of the Bethel Baptist Church, and Odis was a Mason for over 50 years.
Odis semi-retired in the early 1990s to enjoy life in Nocona, where he kept busy with cattle, baling hay, oil properties and restoring tractors. Retirement was really never a word he understood, but the closest he found himself to that was in 2007 when he sold out his oil property, cattle, and hay implements at the age of 80.
After that day until his death Odis would be found daily at 4 a.m. at L.P. Gas Co from force of habit after 58 years opening the gates and front door to welcome his customers. When asked by Odis how to tell his legacy and life story he was known to say “My funeral has already been preached and story written by the life I have lived here in Nocona, and the things I have always stood for.”
In lieu of flowers Odis requested donation be made to the Mary Beckman Downtown Park Fund that is located at Wells Fargo Bank in Nocona or the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
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OBITUARIES

Dean Allen Shaffer

Published

1 week ago

05/28/2025

bowienews

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

OBITUARIES

Betty Sue Bynum

Published

1 week ago

05/28/2025

bowienews

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

OBITUARIES

Pedro Leon Olvera

Published

2 weeks ago

05/22/2025

bowienews

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.