OBITUARIES
Thomas Vernon DeFrates Sr.
February 22, 1934 – February 8, 2022
BOWIE – Thomas Vernon DeFrates Sr., 87, died on Feb. 8, 2022 in Bowie, TX.
A private graveside memorial service will take place at 10 a.m. on Feb. 19 at Sweetwater Cemetery near Decatur.
DeFrates was born on Feb. 22, 1934 in Morgan County, IL to the late Edward and Edith (Meyers) DeFrates. He entered into the United States Navy upon graduation of high school in June of 1951, and spent more than 20 years proudly serving this country. He retired with the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer.
DeFrates married Doris “Jean” Burk on Dec. 19, 1975 and were together for more than 31 years before Doris’s passing on Feb. 1, 2006. They spent 12 years on a farm in Gelena, MO until 1986, when they moved to Bowie. He was very passionate about the Veterans of Foreign Wars group of which he was past commander and politics.
He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jean DeFrates; son, Rick Wright; brothers, Elmer Lee Defrates, Harry DeFrates.
He is survived by his children, Tom Wright, Wise Coounty, Tim Wright, Oisoll, Scott Wright, Livingston, Marty DeFrates, Manchester, IL, Deb Treece, Waverly, IL, Tom DeFrates Jr., Woodson, IL, Mike Collins and Guy Collin, Hurst; sister, Becky Allen, Colorado Springs, CO and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie
OBITUARIES
Linda Jeanne Wynn
November 24, 1943 – October 6, 2026
ATHENS – Linda Jeanne Wynn, 82, died on Oct. 6, 2026 in Athens, TX.
A celebration of life took place at 10 a.m. on Oct. 10 at the First Baptist Church of Bowie. Family received friends one hour prior to the service. The burial followed at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie.
She was born Nov. 24, 1943 in Pilot Point. She was adopted into her loving family of Maurice and Annie James as an infant. She primarily grew up in Bowie and graduated from Bowie High School in May of 1962. There she met and married her first husband, Don Stephens.
She worked for Arlington Independent School District for 16 years and married the love of her life, Larry Wynn.
She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Maurice and Annie James; and brother, John James.
She is survived by her loving husband, Larry; daughters, Denise McFarland and Leann Carlson; six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
OBITUARIES
Loye Inez Steen
March 4, 1933 – October 7, 2026
BOWIE – Loye Inez Steen, 93, passed away on Oct. 7, 2026.
A graveside service took place at 10 a.m. on Oct. 9 at the Medlin Cemetery in Trophy Club with Bill Parker officiating.
Loye was born March 4, 1933 in Roanoke to Hartwell and Eunice Newman. She was in the first graduating class of Northwest High School. On Sept. 2, 1949 she married Bill Steen in Weatherford.
Loye owned and operated Ceramics Plus in Bowie. She was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She loved to garden and cook.
She is preceded in death by her parents; husband, Bill and daughter, Julie Parker.
Loye is survived by her granddaughters, Melissa Hay and husband Robert, Bowie and Morgan Soward and husband Dustin, Bowie; son-in-law, Bill Parker, Bowie; and great-grandchildren, Cooper, Spencer, Maddie, Molly, Xander and Rhett.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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OBITUARIES
Ray Kent “Skeeter” Boyd
September 13, 1935 – October 6, 2026
BOWIE – Ray Kent “Skeeter” Boyd, 91 passed away on Oct. 6, 2026 in Gainesville, TX.
The family received friends from 10 a.m to 12 p.m. on Oct. 8 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A graveside service followed at 2 p.m. at Perryman Cemetery in Forestburg with Randy Taylor officiating.
Skeeter was born on Sept. 13, 1935, to Joseph Amsey and Eula Belle (Akins) Boyd in Fruitland, Montague County. He graduated in 1955 from Forestburg High School. As a young man he worked for his grandfather and then went on to serve his country in the United States Army in 1957.
Throughout his life, he worked as a truck driver and carpenter for many years. Skeeter also did the rodeo, bull riding and bareback riding. He loved music and was an avid fiddle maker and enjoyed playing the fiddle and mandolin.
He is preceded in death by his parents; son, Bryce Kent Boyd; brothers, Donald Dean Boyd, Joe Arnold Boyd, Ricky Carroll Boyd, Jerrell Roger Boyd and baby boy Boyd in 1945; sisters, Sheridan Ann Boyd and Bonita Francis Boyd; brother-in-law, James Barker and sister-in-law, Wilma Dean Kistler.
Skeeter is survived by his sons, William Lynn Boyd of Hillsboro, OR and Joseph Sterling Boyd, Mesquite, NV; brothers, Norris Wayne Boyd and wife Carolyn, Rosston and Doyle Vane Boyd, Houston; sisters, Donna Gayle Vann and husband Tony, Forestburg, Ramalee Barker, Bowie and Bobbie Dale Mitchell and husband Billy, Georgia; former spouse, Linda Claudet Stradley, Tigard, OR and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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