OBITUARIES
Rita June “Nanny” White Heard
![](https://bowienewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/candle_Candle_light_4010.jpg)
September 1, 1931 – June 9, 2021
BOWIE – Rita June “Nanny” White Heard, 89, Bowie, TX, went home to be with the Lord on June 9, 2021 in Denton, TX.
The funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. on June 12 at the First United Methodist Church in Bowie, with the Rev. Steve Martinez officiating. The burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Stoneburg.
June was born Sept. 1, 1931 in the home of Winnie and Ike Parks in Bowie. She attended Bowie school where she fell in love with Gordon “Pop” Heard during elementary school, even though he threw rocks at her. June was the vice president of her senior class, Future Farmers of America sweetheart, co-editor of the Maroon and White, majorette for one year and drum major of the award-winning Bowie Band for three years, member of the annual committee, director of the Bowie Band Show and majorette at Texas Christian University.
June and Gordon were married on Aug. 28, 1949 at the First Baptist Church in Bowie. After attending TCU, June joined Gordon in Lubbock where they attended Texas Tech University. Following Gordon’s graduation, they returned to Bowie in 1951 where Gordon joined his father to own and operate Heard’s Hardware Furniture and Appliance. June was the store’s buyer for all furniture and giftware and always regaled her family with stories of her annual trips with her daughter and daughters-in-law to the Dallas Gift Market.
June and Gordon were later joined by their son, David, in managing the daily operations of the family business. June could also be found behind the cash register, in the gift-wrapping department, assisting with the bookkeeping and greeting customers with her infectious smile until they retired and closed the store on Sept. 8, 2003.
June and Gordon also owned and operated the 5 Bar Ranch, albeit she was no cowgirl. However, she hosted many holidays at the ranch including many picnics, Easter egg hunts, and infamous barbecues.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church where she served on almost every committee in the church including trustees, daycare board, Methodist Women, president of the Women’s Society, choir member and also served as a Sunday School teacher.
She was a past president of the Bowie parent-teacher association, band parents association, member of tennis moms, Boy Scouts troop volunteer, a charter member of the Bowie Amity Club, member of the Maids and Matrons Club of Bowie, a longtime volunteer for Meals on Wheels, served on the board of the Bowie Memorial Library as well as the Bowie Hospital Auxiliary. June also thoroughly enjoyed meeting with her dear friends each month for Bridge Club. June and Gordon also were honored as the Grand Marshals of the Bowie Christmas Parade.
She and her husband Gordon were charter members of the Bowie Educational Foundation. They proudly promoted and encouraged the continued success and education of Bowie High School graduates. They raised three of their own Jackrabbits together: Bob Heard, David Heard and Julie Heard Wallace. A large part of her life was spent as a proud supporter of the Bowie Jackrabbits.
She never missed any little league, basketball, volleyball, football, baseball, band contests, twirling competitions and tennis tournaments cheering on her children and grandchildren. She was always at the front row of every send-off waving her Jackrabbit flag. Not only was she an avid supporter of her Bowie Jackrabbits, but embodied the spirit of the motto, “Jackrabbits Forever.” At the last count, her home displayed over 823 of Jackrabbits.
After retirement, June and Gordon enjoyed adventuring across the United States in their RV and traveling the world. They also spent many summers with their children and grandchildren hiking around their beloved Estes Park, CO in the Rocky Mountain National Park. It was an annual tradition that continued for many years. In fact, her to be 90th birthday celebration was already planned in Estes this coming fall.
Nanny was famous for her artistry in birthday and holiday cards for family, which always included a $2 bill with a paper jackrabbit. She beautifully created needlepoint Christmas stocking heirlooms for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
She was an amazing artist – she loved to paint with oils, watercolors and sketched, with many of her works reflecting the Rocky Mountains and aspen trees that were so dear to her heart.
June also was an excellent cook. Nanny and Pop’s home was the gathering place for all holiday events. She delighted in having her children and grandchildren assist in the preparation of these holiday extravaganzas.
In addition, for many years they hosted their dear BHS alums with an annual Christmas party as well as an Old Fools’ Spring Golf tournament. In her later years, she delighted sitting on the lake house patio counting waves on Amon Carter Lake drinking her sundowner with a twist of lemon. She never failed to miss an episode of Wheel of Fortune, cheering on her beloved Dallas Cowboys, singing Fight Raiders Fight for her Texas Tech Red Raiders, and playing for hours with her great-grandson Beckett.
Nanny was the true testament of a God-fearing Christian, loving wife, devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Emin Heard; grandfather, Emin Charles Heard; grandmother, Una Heard; grandfather, Hardy Elijah Overstreet; grandmother, Martha Carolyn McNeil White; father, Robert Toombs White; mother, Lena Mae Overstreet White and brother, Robert Lynn White.
Survivors include her sons, Robert Willis Heard and wife, Mindy, Las Colinas; David Gordon Heard and wife, Sharron, Bowie; daughter, Julie Wallace and husband, Ward, Bowie; sister, Linda and husband, Bob Fitzner, Bowie; sister-in-law, Gail White, Bowie; grandchildren, Jonathan Heard, Paige Delgado and husband, Mike, Somer McCormick and husband, Cameron, Amber Garrett, Tara Jackson and husband, Ben, Blake Wallace and wife, Tiffany, Shelbi Wood and husband, Nathan and Madison Wallace; great-granddaughters, Jacie Garrett, Avery Garrett, Bella McCormick and Mackenzie Delgado; great-grandsons, Callan McCormick, Bennett Jackson, Rylan Delgado, Beckett Ward Wood and Banks Everett Wallace; great-great-grandson, Oaklynd Delgado and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
If friends desire, memorials can be made to Bowie Educational Foundation PO Box 992 Bowie, TX 76230 or First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund 1515 Jefferson St. Bowie, TX 76230.
Paid publication
OBITUARIES
Flossie Bernice Wicks
![](https://bowienewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/obit-pic.jpg)
March 16, 1932 – August 15, 2024
BOWIE – Flossie Bernice Wicks, 92, passed away on Aug. 15, 2024.
A graveside service will take place at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 17 at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie, with Larry Cox officiating.
Flossie was born March 16, 1932 to Charles Womble and Francis L. (Van Zant) Jerden. She was a high-spirited woman; she was the former owner of Sweets with Elegance in Seminole, TX. She moved to Bowie in 1995 with her husband James Lawrence Wicks to be closer to family. After the passing of her husband, she began working at Quickway Grocery in Bowie where she worked for many years.
After retiring she was a member and treasurer of the Bowie Singles Club. She loved every moment of her time in the club from planning parties and events to winning first place in chili cook-offs. Flossie truly loved life and lived a life to be proud of. She will be missed by so many that love the amazing women that she was.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Ben Harold White; husband, James Lawrence Wicks and daughter, Linda Kay Terry.
Flossie is survived by her daughter, Kara Williams, Bowie; grandchildren, Mike Williams, Savannah, TX, Russell Blanton, Bowie and Jamie Davis, Kerrville; great-grandchildren, Shelby Russell, Bowie, Lane Davis, Velma, OK, Raife Davis, Bowie, Jessup Davis, Bowie and Levi McClannahan, Bowie and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
OBITUARIES
Diana Lynn Atkinson
![](https://bowienewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/obit-pic.jpg)
January 14, 1947 – August 12, 2024
SUNSET – Diana Lynn Atkinson, 77, went home to be with the Lord on Aug. 12, 2024 in Denton.
The family received friends from 6 to 7 p.m. on Aug. 15 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
A funeral service took place at 10 a.m. on Aug. 16 at the St. Peter Lutheran Church in Bowie, with the Rev. Mark De Young officiating. Burial followed at Sunset Cemetery in Sunset.
Diana was born Jan. 14, 1947 in Clinton, KY to Jewell and Mary (Floyd) Rochelle. She graduated from Hammond High School in Hammond, IN. Diana met the love of her life, James “Jim” Atkinson at the A&P Grocery Store, where they both worked. The couple were married May 27, 1967 in Hammond, and together they had two boys, James and Michael.
The family moved to Texas in 1982, and Diana worked as a recruiter for the Boy Scouts of America. She later earned a real estate license and worked in the area until her retirement in 1998. Diana had a kind heart and enjoyed volunteering at Wise Regional Hospital in Decatur. She was a longtime member of the St. Peter Lutheran Church in Bowie.
She is preceded in death by her parents and son, Michael Atkinson.
Diana is survived by her husband, Jim Atkinson, Sunset; son, Jimmy Atkinson and wife Molly, Sunset; grandchildren, Amanda Gilmore and husband Chance, Bowie, Emiley Atkinson, Decatur, Mary Atkinson, Sunset and Kayleigh Atkinson, Decatur and seven great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in honor of Diana to The St. Peter Lutheran Church of Bowie.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
OBITUARIES
Marilyn Welch
![](https://bowienewsonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/obit-pic.jpg)
September 10, 1956 – August 14, 2024
BOWIE – Marilyn Welch, 67, died on Aug. 14, 2024.
A memorial service will take place at 10 a.m. on Aug. 17 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie, with Pastor Glenn Neff officiating.
She was born Sept. 10, 1956 in Bowie to Billy Joe and Alphine (Tucker) McGee. She graduated from Bowie High School and attended Blackburn College in Illinois. As a young woman she worked for Leonard Ashley in office supply, then started a 20 year long career as a teller with Legend Bank until her retirement in 2020. She attended First Free Will Baptist Church for many years.
She is preceded in death by her father, Billy Jo McGee.
She is survived by her mother, Alphine Wheeler; brothers, Joe McGee and Jeff McGee; one nephew and one niece.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
-
NEWS2 years ago
2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS9 months ago
Suspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS1 year ago
SO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS2 years ago
Wreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS1 year ago
Murder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
NEWS1 year ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
NEWS2 years ago
Bowie Police face three-hour standoff after possible domestic fight
-
NEWS2 years ago
Driver stopped by a man running into the street, robbed at knifepoint