April 22, 1932 – May 15, 2024
NOCONA – Gloria Ethel Painter, 92, died on May 15, 2024 in the Pecan Tree Manor in Gainesville after a brief illness.
A visitation will be at 1 p.m. on May 19 at Bethel Baptist Church in Nocona. A funeral service will follow at 2 p.m. with Pastor Jerry Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Nocona Cemetery.
She was born to Hubert and Ruby Malone Painter on April 22, 1932 in Wichita Falls. She grew up most of her childhood in Wichita Falls and moved to Nocona during middle school. She graduated from Nocona High School in May 1949 and attended Howard Payne University in Brownwood. She married Paul Bagby Smith in July 1950 and the young couple made their homes in the Kerrville area, Nocona and Bowie. The couple divorced in 1957 and she moved back to Nocona.
She went to work for the Nocona Telephone Company and married Bob Kafer in 1958. The couple made their homes in Wichita Falls, Waurika and Lubbock. During those years, she worked in a variety of office jobs. They divorced after 13 years of marriage and Painter moved back to Nocona where she went to work for the Nocona Boot Company.
She later married Bill Wade and the couple made their home in Alvord. She worked on the family farm helping run the watermelon stand and worked in a ceramic business in Alvord. She also worked many years for the Wise County Tax Office in Decatur. She finished up her major work life with the Denton State School where she worked for nearly 20 years.
After a divorce and retirement she moved back to Nocona where she helped care for elderly patients with a variety of tasks. Painter cared for many children in Bethel Baptist Church as a nursery worker and was active in the Carpenter’s Shop.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Hubert and Ruby Painter; an infant brother; brother, Jerry Painter; sister, Lucia Johnson; son, Joe Bob and daughter, Jena Lesa.
She is survived by her son, Jerry Smith, Valley Mills; daughter, Jane Tettleton, Arlington; 10 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren and host of nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
Memorials may be made to Bethel Baptist Church, the Nocona Senior Citizen’s Center or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements entrusted to Jerry Woods Funeral Home of Nocona.

October 23, 1938 – May 8, 2024
NOCONA – On May 8, 2024, life-long Nocona resident Gayle Marie Storey left her family and friends to be with her loved ones in Heaven.
A rosary was at 6 p.m. on May 13 at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Nocona. A visitation followed in parish hall. A funeral mass was at 11 a.m. on May 14 at St. Joseph’s. Interment followed at Nocona Cemetery. Pall Bearers are John Womack, Jeremy Walker, Gary Don Robertson, Bill Crowe, Mike Taylor and Ron Kutz. Honorary Pall Bearers are Chris Womack, Kelly Davis and the Nocona High School Class of 1957.
She was born Oct. 23, 1938 to Charles Edward Burnett and Lenora Marie Brown Burnett. She married Jim Storey on Dec. 3, 1960. They had three children, Mike, Mark and Suzanne Storey. They were married for 31 wonderful years until his death on Dec. 13, 1991.
She later married Raymond Salmon on Aug. 8, 1999, and they were married for 17 years until his death on Dec. 17, 2016. She also was preceded in death by her grandson, Newt Yowell.
Survivors include son, Mike Storey and wife Saprina; grandson Jeremy Walker and wife Bibha; great grandchildren Jessica, Sadie, Prince and Ryder; great-great grandchild Silas; granddaughter Amber Walker; great grandchildren, Jaxon Hamilton, Faith Wolfenbarger and husband Philip and Sage Gossett; great-great grandchildren Phillip, Embrie, Ryot and Haven; son, Mark Storey and wife Leigh Ann; granddaughters, Olivia and Ava; daughter, Suzanne Storey and husband Tommy Yowell; grandchildren, Abby Gayle Linn, Wyatt Storey Yowell, Erin Linn and Emily Carminati; great grandson KJ “Jimmy” Sowell; sister, Linda Eldred and husband Tommy; nephews, Chris and John Womack; niece, Stacie Eldred and Gayle’s special caregiver and friend, Becky Beckham.
Gayle graduated from Nocona High School in 1957 with honors. She was a very devoted wife to Jim, the love of her life. She also was dedicated to her Catholic Faith. She was a creative and crafty person as well as a top-notch seamstress, homemaker, artist and quilter. Gayle was an attentive soul, having cared for her parents before their deaths.
She loved traveling with Jim to sporting goods shows and family vacations all over the U.S., Mexico, Caribbean and the family cabin in Colorado.
She was a member of St. Joseph’s Altar Society, various quilt guilds, sewing clubs and the Montague County Historical Commission. She served on the NHS homecoming committee for many years. She absolutely loved her time spent with the NHS Class of 1957 classmates at reunions and luncheons. Her generation grew up in the happy days of the 50’s. Her latest passion was delivering meals for the Nocona Senior Center Meals on Wheels program.
Gayles’ family was especially fortunate to be with her at the time of her death. Everyone got to spend some special time with her. The ones that could not be with her had the opportunity to be with her via facetime.
Gayle shared with her family members that she had lived a good life having everything she wanted or needed. She was especially thankful that her family always lived close by. She was always eager to share her wealth of knowledge of local and family history. Gayle will be greatly missed by family and friends.
Her last words were, “Everything will be okay.”
Memorials may be made to the Nocona Senior Center Meals on Wheels Program.
Service under the direction of Jerry Woods Funeral Home of Nocona.

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December 1, 1927 – May 12, 2024
WHITESBORO – Claudia Fay Sanford, 96, went home to be with the Lord on May 12, 2024.
A graveside service will take place 11 a.m. on May 18 at Sunset Cemetery in Sunset.
Claudia was born Dec. 1, 1927 in Gunter, TX to Jessie and Birdie (Walker) Fletcher. As a young girl she was raised in the Sherman and Denison areas. Claudia was a cook in the school cafeteria and drove a school bus. Later she worked in housekeeping at the Bowie Memorial Hospital. She retired and moved to Kingston, OK. Claudia was very music minded and always enjoyed picking and grinning. In her free time she enjoyed sewing. She loved her family dearly and will be remembered for being a devoted mother and grandmother.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Billy “Red” Sanford; son, Rodney Hancock; granddaughter, Alicia Adams; grandson, Joseph Hodge; four sisters and two brothers.
Claudia is survived by her daughters, Ann Cantrell and husband Bill, Kingston, OK and Anita Caplinger and husband Kevin, Whitesboro; son, Willie Hodge and wife Shannon, Tolar, TX; grandchildren, Debbie Keatts and husband Bruce, Bud Bridgeman, Amy Davis and husband Rodd, Josh Cantrell and wife Tanya, Adam Cantrell and wife Angie, Sarah Burnett and husband Wes, Aaron Adams and wife Shannon, Dustin Adams and wife Janice, Josh Lott and wife Tiffany, Kris Whitmire and husband Derrick, Brandie Caplinger, Cody Fowler and wife Chelsea, Candiauce Klein, Randy Hodge and wife Stephanie, Jada Browder, Kristie Lancaster and husband Bubba, Devon Turner and Alysha Browder; numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-granchildren.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

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