OBITUARIES

L.C. Smith & Mildred Ruth Taylor Smith

Published

5 years ago

11/03/2020

June 7, 1928 – October 22, 2020
December 22, 1931 – October 29, 2020
BOWIE – L.C. Smith, 92, went to the home to be with the Lord on Oct. 22, 2020. Just five days short of their 71st wedding anniversary, his loving wife, Ruth joined him in heaven just one week later. Mildred Ruth Taylor Smith, 84, passed away on Oct. 29, 2020.
A funeral service will take place on Nov. 4 in the chapel of the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie, TX. The burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
L.C. was born on June 7, 1928, in Atoka, OK to Lon Earl and Jewel Durham Smith. Ruth was born on Dec. 22, 1931 in Nocona to William and Annie Murphy Taylor.
L.C. was a World War II veteran serving in the Army from 1945 to 1950. Part of that time, he served as an artillery gunner in the Philippine Islands. He came home on a two-week furlough to visit his cousin in Nocona.
He went to church with his cousin who introduced him to his wife’s sister, Ruth. It was truly meant to be because they were married a few short months later on Oct. 27, 1949.
Just three days after their wedding he shipped out to Fort Lewis, Washington until he was discharged from military service while Ruth stayed in Nocona and completed her senior year of high school.
Saved in 1952, L.C. was called into pastoral ministry soon afterward. Ruth answered the call with him and lovingly helped him as a pastor’s wife. They served 60 years together with 15 of those years being at Lighthouse Assembly of God in Bowie. L.C. loved to preach and even after he retired from pulpit ministry, he continued to be willing to preach to anyone who would listen.
While L.C. loved a good game of dominoes, hunting was his favorite hobby. He loved to hunt deer, quail, dove and whatever else could be hunted. He went on countless hunting trips with kids, grandkids, friends, church members and anyone else who liked to hunt.
Ruth joined him on the hunts with their kids and grandkids but her favorite hobby was hand stitching and quilting. She won many awards for her quilting skills and made quilts for her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren as well as many friends. Her love language was cooking. She baked thousands of cookies for her grandkids and made gallons of three bear soup.
They were known as “mother and daddy” to daughters Lana and Dian, but their favorite names were “DeDad and MeMom” not only to their grandchildren and great-grandchildren but to most people in the community.
The legacy they left their daughters was that building a firm foundation on Jesus Christ is what will mark your life. Because of this foundation, the world saw faithfulness, purpose, love and integrity in every season of MeMom and DeDad’s lives.
L. C. was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Opal Creggar, Bess Gaut, Eula Wilson, Beulah Higbee and son-in-law, Sonny Ritter. Ruth was preceded in death by her parents, sisters, Wilbert Molsbee, Plyna Joy Linn and Barbara Sue Taylor, brothers, Dewey Taylor, J.L.Taylor, Kenneth Taylor and Wesley Taylor and son-in-law Sonny Ritter.
They are survived by daughters, Lana Ritter and Dian Webb and husband, Darwin; Ruth’s sisters, Rada Russell and Retha Larison; grandson, James Ritter and wife, Tracy; granddaughters, Summer Eudey and husband, Graham, Heidi Fox and husband, Chad, Harmoni Brooks and husband, Scott and Mallory Alderete and husband, Dale; great-grandchildren, Alisha, Drew, Addison, Season, Kynleigh, Grayson, Matt, Medlee, Lyrik, Zack, Jewel, Andy, Jazzlyn, Rhythm, Anni, Gideon and Zeke and great-great-grandson, Kaedynn.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations be sent to the Bowie Senior Citizens or a veteran organization of your choice.
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.