OBITUARIES

Thomas “Tom” Edward Ballew

Published

5 years ago

09/25/2020

July 15, 1945 – September 23, 2020
BOWIE – Thomas “Tom” Edward Ballew, 75, Bowie, TX went home to be with the Lord on Sept. 23, 2020 in Fort Worth, TX.
A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. on Sept. 26 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie, with Pastor Allen McCauley officiating and Don Schenck presenting the eulogy. The burial will follow at Brushy Cemetery in Bowie. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Sept. 25 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
Tom was born July 15, 1945 in Clinton, OK to Luther Melvin and Minnie Ruth (Wilson) Ballew. Tom has had a lifelong love of cars. He worked side by side with his dad and restored a 1928 truck, worked on race cars, collected and showed vintage vehicles and cruised the roadways which lead him to be a founding member of the Piston Heads Auto Club.
No matter where Tom called home, he would support and serve his community. He was an officer and active member of the Lions Club and was involved in the softball association when he lived in Arlington. He served on the Bowie Community Development board, previously known as Main Street. He also was recognized by various military organizations for building and donating flag poles to cemeteries that had veterans.
Tom traveled all over the United States for his work in the environmental industry and taught environmental safety classes. He started a business for aerobic filtration for septic systems and received a patent for his filter system. Tom never met a stranger and loved his family more than anything. You could frequently find him tinkering in the garage, feeding the birds and squirrels, riding on his tractor and RV-ing. He chased around his grandkids, attended all their activities and events, and always took them for donuts on Saturday morning.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
Tom is survived by his wife, Donna Ballew, Bowie; daughter, Kari Grubbs and husband, Brad of Arlington; brother, Gene Ballew and wife, Cherryl of Kearney; grandchildren, Devin Grubbs, Logan Grubbs, and Lea Grubbs; MO; and various extended family and friends.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication

1418 Highway 59 N,
Bowie, TX
(940) 872-9993
thewhitefamilyfuneralhome.com

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.