OBITUARIES
Darlene Joyce Hamilton McCord

August 1, 1940 – January 20, 2021
BOWIE – Darlene Joyce Hamilton Mccord passed from this life on Jan. 20, 2021 at her home in Bowie, TX.
A funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. on Jan. 23 at the Old Country Church in Bowie with pastors Tommy John Mayo and Jay Webb officiating. The burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie. The family received friends from 4 to 7 p.m. on Jan. 22 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
Darlene was born in Newport on Aug. 1, 1940 to George A. and Ethel Hamilton. She graduated from Bellevue High School in May of 1958, where she lettered in basketball all four years. Darlene married her high school sweetheart and the love of her life, Jon McCord, on March 31, 1956. After graduation, she caught a bus to Sumter, SC to join Jon, who was stationed there at Shaw Air Force Base. The couple returned to Texas in 1959, making their home in Dallas, where she worked at Reuters America for 20 years as a customer service liaison. Jon and Darlene returned to Bowie in 2002 to live on “the creek,” which was their family-owned land since the 1940s.
Playing the piano “by ear’ was a gift Darlene had enjoyed since she was 10 years old. The desire to play and share her love of music led Darlene to organized “Friday Night Music” at the Bowie Senior Citizens Center that was enjoyed by many friends and neighbors. Darlene had a passion for learning, and at the age of 72, she set out to accomplish her goal of learning to play the fiddle. Loving every minute of the challenge and naturally developing great skill, she competed in her first fiddle contest at the Chicken and Bread Days in Oct. of 2020.
Over the last few years, Darlene had also developed a love of photography. One of her proudest moments was winning the Blue Ribbon at the Chicken and Bread Days Art Contest in both 2019 and 2020.
She was a member of the Newport Baptist Church, where she served the Lord by playing for the congregation.
Darlene was named “Citizen of the Year” by the Bowie Chamber of Commerce in 2014, a well-deserved honor for her continual community service, which included playing music at the local assisted living facilities and nursing homes.
She was preceded in death by her parents and son, Michael McCord.
Darlene is survived by her husband, Jon; brother, Dewayne Hamilton and wife, Diana of Bowie; three aunts and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bellevue X-Students Association, 601 West Wichita Street, Henrietta, Texas 76365 c/o Kathy Gregory or to the charity of your choice.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
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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