OBITUARIES

James (Jay) Luther Reed

Published

5 years ago

10/20/2020

June 21, 1945 – October 17, 2020
BELLEVUE – James (Jay) Luther Reed, 75, died Oct. 17, 2020 in Belleuve, TX at home.
A celebration of life will take place at 10 a.m. on Oct. 24 at Bellevue First Baptist Church with Pastor Howard Walker, Henrietta and Robert Slayton, Bellevue officiating. Reed will be cremated and ashes placed in the Bellevue Cemetery alongside his inlaws, Dick and Asalene Lovelady. Colm Murphy will give the Army Corps salutation at the Bellevue Cemetery after the celebration of life.
Reed was born June 21, 1945 in Kaiser, AK. He was the fourth son of Vernie and Mary Rose (Dunkin) Reed. Living his young life up and down the Mississippi River area of Arkansas and southern part of Missouri, he ended up at Wilson High School in Wilson, AK. There he held the fastest record of running in Wilson track and field events for many years.
He entered the army for the Korean War and spent four hitches. He did basic training in Fort Polk, LA and spent time at Fort Sill, OK. He was a first lieutenant in field artillery, a marksman, as well as a forward observer who was exposed to Agent Orange in Korea.
He drove 18-wheelers after his service in the army and also became a pilot. These were his passion. He was an avid domino and checker player, loving the challenges. He married Carolyn Sue Lovelady Lawrence in 1990. They met in 1980 while Sue was waitressing and again in 1988. They married on Feb. 25, 1990 in Bellevue. James had to quit trucking because of regulation for heart attack drivers and got a job at the Bellevue city water department, which he loved because he was able to meet the citizens.
Jay was raised in the Church of Christ, but for the last 10-15 years, he attended the First Baptist Church of Bellevue. He was a Christian and one day his family will see him again. When his cancer became worse and he was forced to stay at home. He loved anything to do with the army. His favorite television show was “MASH” and his favorite movie was “Air America.” He loved flying with his wife, kids, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a master at whatever he set his mind to.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Vernie and Mary Rose (Dunking) Reed; brothers, James Reed and wife Bernice, and Luther Reed and wife Louis; brother-in-law, Ronald Earl Gray and sister-in-law Myra (Blaylock) Reed and nephews, James Jr. Reed, Bo Reed, Ronald Gray, Jr., and Vernie Curtis Reed.
He is survived by his wife of almost 32 years, Sue Reed; children, James Lawrence and Stephanie Lawrence Bonds (Mike); grandchildren, Alehsia Lawrence Dellinges (Brandon), Cole Lawrence, Gabriel Garza and will bonds; great-grandchildren, Ella and Landry Dellings and Emalea Jo (Lawrence/Harris); sister, Sarah Reed Gray, son and three grandchildren; sister LouVern Reed Baker and husband Verlin Baker and their children and grandchildren; brother, Vernie Jr. Reed and his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; brother, Cecil Reed (Linda Jesse), children and great-grandchildren; nieces, Sequoia Henson (Ray), children and great-grandchildren; wife of nephew Curtis, Donna and their children and great-grandchildren; nephew Jerry Wayne Reed (Gail) and their children and great-grandchildren.
Jay will always be loved and missed. Any contributions in his honor can be made to cancer research. Cancer is a vicious killer and can strike the young, as well as older victims.
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OBITUARIES

Dean Allen Shaffer

Published

2 weeks 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.
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OBITUARIES

Betty Sue Bynum

Published

2 weeks 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.
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OBITUARIES

Pedro Leon Olvera

Published

3 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.