OBITUARIES

Luella Mae Pirtle

Published

2 years ago

11/12/2021

June 1, 1925 – November 9, 2021
BOWIE – Luella Mae Pirtle, 96, Lubbock, TX, formerly of Bowie, TX, went home to be with the Lord on Nov. 9, 2021.
A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. on Nov. 13 at the United Presbyterian Church of Montague County in Bowie, with the Rev. Joe Gambill officiating. The burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie. The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Nov. 12 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
Luella was born on June 1, 1925 in Clayton, NM to William and Nora Wright. As a child she moved to Bowie from Dalhart in 1935 during the notorious Dust Bowl. Luella graduated from Bowie High School in 1942, and attended business school in Fort Worth before being employed by the Johnson Poultry Ranch where she worked in the office handling shipping orders. Thus began Luella’s years of being an intricate part of Bowie and the surrounding area. Luella married Willard Pirtle in Oct. 28, 1959 in Bowie, the couple lived in the Bowie and Sunset areas for the entirety of their married, while raising two sons. Luella was the matriarch and operator of the Mark P. Hereford Ranch.
She was an active member of the Presbyterian Church for over 75 years. Not only did she enjoy singing in the choir, but also taught Sunday school for many years and was a former member of the governing session.
Luella served as a member of the board of directors of the Bowie Senior Citizens’ Project and volunteered at the Bowie Mission for 12 years. In past years, when her sons were in Bowie schools, she served as president of the Parent-Teacher Association and was awarded a lifetime membership. She also was a vital part of the Band Parents’ Association. Luella was a recipient of the Silver Beaver award for her work with the Boy Scouts of America. She was one of the last members of the McDowell Music Club of Bowie and was a past worthy matron of Bowie Eastern Star.
She is a member of the Texas Hereford Association and the American Hereford Association, as well as, the Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. In 1982 during the Bowie Centennial Celebration, she was honored to serve as duchess on the Pioneer Queen’s Court. Thirty-three years later, in 2015 she was again honored to represent Jim Bowie Days as Pioneer Queen and continued to contribute to the ongoing pioneer spirit of the community that she so dearly loved.
She is preceded in death by her parents and husband, Floyd Willard Pirtle in 2003.
Luella is survived by her sons, Floyd Pirtle and wife, Susan, Lubbock, Philip Pirtle and Cindy, Spring and grandchildren, Andrew Pirtle, Katie Pirtle and Cassie Pirtle.
Should friends desire, memorials can be made in honor of Mrs. Pirtle, to the Presbyterian Church or a charity of your choice.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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1418 Highway 59 N. Bowie, TX
(940) 872-9993 www.thewhitefamilyfuneralhome.com

OBITUARIES

James Brock Lyons Jr.

Published

8 hours ago

05/03/2024

bowienews

April 22, 1948 – April 30, 2024
MANSFIELD, AR – James B. Lyons Jr. (Jim), 76, passed away on April 30, 2024 in Fort Smith, AR.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. on May 7 at Martin Funeral and Cremation. A private graveside service with military honors will be at the Fort Smith National Cemetery in Fort Smith, AR. Honorary pallbearers will include David Morgan, Mike Robles, Westin Corbin, Michael Robles, Cody Robles, Chris Little and Michael Winters.
Jim was born on April 22, 1948 in Bowie to James “Brock” Lyons and Patsy Ruth West Lyons. Jim was a proud Vietnam Veteran and served in the United States Air Force.
Jim will be greatly missed by all of his family. We will always remember his constant teasing, his great love for the Texas Longhorns (even though we are all Razorback fans) and his passion for spinning the wheel at the casino.
He was preceded in death by his father, James B. Lyons Sr.
Jim is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Beverly Boatright Lyons; his five children, Stephanie (David) Morgan, April (Mike) Robles, Brock Lyons, Mansfield, AR, Kiemeche (Westin) Corbin, Charleston, AR and Dakotha Lyons, Fort Smith, AR; seven grandchildren, Kayla (Michael) Winters, Cheyene (Chris) Little, Michael Robles, Cody Robles, Addison Robles, Mansfield, AR, Ellie Lyons, Fort Smith, AR and Connor Corbin, Charleston, AR and five great-grandchildren, Kinlee and Easton Winters, Leena and Ledger Little and soon to arrive, Letty Little, all of Mansfield, AR. Jim also is survived by his mother, Patsy Lyons and his sister, Karen Self of Bowie.

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OBITUARIES

Michael Frank “Mike” Hankins

Published

8 hours ago

05/03/2024

bowienews

August 9, 1954 – May 1, 2024
BOWIE – Michael Frank “Mike” Hankins, 69, died on May 1, 2024.
A graveside service will take place at 2 p.m. on May 6 at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie.
He was born on Aug. 9, 1954. He graduated from Bowie High School, then attended Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls where he graduated with a degree in elementary education. He member of the First Baptist Church of Bowie where he worked for years at opening and closing the church. He also worked for Walmart in Bowie for many years.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Fairy Hankins and his brother, Sonny Hankins.
He is survived by his brother, Gene Hankins, Victoria, TX; one niece; two nephews and many cousins.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

OBITUARIES

Billy James “Jimmy” Avery

Published

3 days ago

04/30/2024

bowienews

March 25, 1942 – April 26, 2024
ODESSA – Billy James “Jimmy” Avery, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend entered the presence of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 26, 2024. He was 82 years old.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on May 2 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. on May 3 at the First Free Will Baptist Church in Bowie, with Pastor and family friend Doyle Wade officiating. Burial will follow at Salona Cemetery in Bowie. Pallbearers will be John Coffey, Tim Green, Mark Jackson, Chad McCracken, Larry Overstreet and Kurt Jackson. Honorary pallbearers include Joe McCracken, Louie Jackson, Gary Odle, Terrell Hill and Kevin Bryan.
Jimmy was born in Bowie to LR and Elsie (Johnson) Avery on March 25, 1942. He graduated from Bowie High School, where he played on the football team making all district and all area his senior year. He then went to play football at Cameron University.
On Aug. 3, 1963 Jimmy married his high school sweetheart, Judy Elizabeth Overstreet Avery. This began a love story that would last 61 years. Together they began a remarkable life and raised two beautiful girls, Kimberly Avery and Kelly Haring. He had an amazing career at Shell Oil where he retired after 30 years.
He was an avid hunter and fisher, loved his western movies and never missed a Texas Longhorn football game. His true passion in life though was his family and most knew him as their beloved “Poppa.” His family was his pride and joy and he would have done anything for them. Poppa had the natural ability to put a smile on anyone’s face and always leave you with a laugh. He knew how to have fun and be the life of the party. Jimmy Avery was a hard-working man whose life was dedicated to his loving family.
He is preceded in death by his parents, LR and Elsie (Johnson) Avery and sister, Colleen Hunt.
Jimmy is survived by his loving wife, Judy; his children, Kimberly Avery and Kelly Haring, all of Odessa; nephew, Lanny Hunt, Wichita Falls and cousins, Mike Avery, Longview, TX and Terry Tucker, Fort Worth. He was a proud Poppa to Ashley Bryan and husband Kevin, Fort Worth and one great-grandchild, Conner James Bryan, named after his beloved Poppa.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

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