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John Wilburn Dixon

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John Wilburn Dixon
July 12, 1923 – March 19, 2018
WASHINGTON – John Wilburn Dixon, 94, passed away on March 19, 2018 in Newcastle, WA.
John was born in Cleburne on July 12, 1923 to Fritz Joaquin Dixon and Lola Elizabeth (Brandt) Dixon.
Nicknamed “Happy” by his peers at Bowie High School, he played basketball, football and the cornet, and competed in high jumping for the track team.
While at the University of Texas – Austin, John joined the Army Reserve Corp and was called into the regular army in 1943.
The army sent him to the University of California – Berkeley to earn his A.B. in Far East Studies.
In November 1943, John was inducted into the Office of Strategic Services. In June 1945, with another agent, John set up an operational base in Japanese occupied territory in South China.
Upon returning to the U.S., he received the Bronze Star Medal for heroic or meritorious achievement and was discharged from OSS and the army.
In 1946, he married Nancy Burnham Eddy. In 1949, he received his bachelor of law from UT – Austin.
After graduating, he worked for Shell Oil Company and was the youngest employee to represent the company at a multimillion dollar auction of leases in Austin.
In January 1951, John joined the Central Intelligence Agency. He was posted to the U.S. Embassy in Manila; served as the acting Deputy Chief of Station at the Consulate in Hong Kong; was the Chief of Foreign Intelligence Operations in Taipei, Taiwan; and served as a reserve foreign service officer at the U.S. Embassy in Togo, West Africa.
From 1962-1966, he worked in New York City with the Federal Bureau of Investigation against counterespionage targets.
Following his divorce from Nancy, he married Thérèse Micheline Picavet in 1966. From 1967 to 1970, he was stationed at the U.S. Embassy in Bonn, Germany. He returned to CIA headquarters in Washington, D.C. and was awarded CIAs Bronze Retirement Medallion for honorable service in 1973.
John then practiced criminal law, civil law and estate planning. After Thérèse passed away in 1986, he met and married Roberta Anne O’Dwyer in 1987; they divorced in 1998. After living in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Arizona, John moved to Washington to be near family.
He was predeceased by his son, Robert.
He is survived by his children, David, Susan, Natasha and Danielle; and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
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Wade Shelton

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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.

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OBITUARIES

Fern Hollaway Caswell

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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.
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Gary Leo Fergueson

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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.

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