OBITUARIES
Wanda Jan Edwards

Wanda Jan Edwards
August 18, 1932 – October 1, 2018
TEMPLE – Wanda Jan Edwards, 86, passed away peacefully on Oct. 1, 2018 in Temple, TX.
Wanda’s remains will be interred at the Edwards Ireland Cemetery in Ireland, TX, where she joins her family and a host of ancestors on ranch land once owned by her great grandfather.
A private graveside service will be scheduled at a future date.
Wanda was born on Aug. 18, 1932, in Levita to Johnnie O’Dell (J.O.) and Marjorie Marial (Lady) Wilson Edwards.
She attended elementary school in Levita and secondary schools in Beaumont and Fort Worth graduating from Polytechnic High School. She received a bachelor of science and master of education
degrees from Texas Wesleyan College (University).
Wanda was an outstanding athlete in the Fort Worth City recreation leagues in both basketball and softball. She earned all-state and all-regional softball player in both Texas Amateur Athletic Federation and Amateur Athletic Union tournaments and participation.
She was named most outstanding player in both divisions. Her softball team participated in three world championship tournaments, finishing in the top bracket each year. Wanda was a participant in the Texas Amateur Golf Association tournaments under the tutelage of Smiley Rowland at Glen Garden Country Club in Fort Worth.
Upon completion of her bachelor’s degree in 1955, she moved to Bowie where she coached the Bowie High School girl’s basketball team to the Class AA Championship at the state tournament in Austin. Her tennis and volleyball teams were also crowned AA champions while she was at Bowie. On Sept. 21, 2018, Wanda was inducted into Bowie High School’s Hall of Honor in recognition of her coaching achievements.
Wanda returned to the Fort Worth area as a teacher, coach and administrator in the Fort Worth Independent School District for 31 years, retiring in 1989 as an administrator at Meadowbrook Middle School. During her time at Meadowbrook, she co-directed the annual talent show, “Stars Over Meadowbrook.” The auditorium is named in her honor.
She served as co-director for the junior athletic programs for the Fort Worth Parks and Recreation Department for 19 years. During the same time, she served as co-director of the Southwest Conference Track meets and the state and national AAU and TAAF meets in Texas.
She enjoyed a retirement full of various activities from breeding, raising, and racing quarter and thoroughbred horses with her friends at the HSE Horse Ranch in Lake Worth, participating in various sports such as trout fishing, hunting and horse racing and visiting with friends and relatives.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.O. Edwards, and brother, Billy Jack Edwards.
She is survived by her sister-in-law, Carol Ann Amberson Edwards; niece, Jacqueline Carol Edwards, Temple; nephew, Stacey Scott Edwards and wife, Diane Marie Greene Edwards and grand-niece, Bethany Ann Edwards all of Morgan’s Point Resort; grand-nephew John Robert Edwards, San Antonio; and numerous relatives, and many life-long and cherished friends.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the: American Liver Foundation, 5605 FM 423, Suite 500-353. Frisco, Texas 75034, First Methodist Church, PO Box 773, Temple, Texas 76503, or the charity of your choice.
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Dossman Funeral Home
Belton, TX | 254-933-2525
OBITUARIES
Wade Shelton

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.
OBITUARIES
Fern Hollaway Caswell

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.
Paid publication
OBITUARIES
Gary Leo Fergueson

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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