OBITUARIES
James W. “Bud” Pickett

December 1, 1943 – February 7, 2022
FORT WORTH – James W. “Bud” Pickett went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Feb. 7, 2022.
A memorial service for Bud was at 2 p.m. Feb. 16, at Christ Chapel Bible Church in Fort Worth.
Bud was born Dec. 1, 1943 in Bowie to Cecil W. Pickett and Tennie Lura “Kate” Farmer Pickett.
He spent his youth in Newport, graduating from Bowie High School in 1963. Bud married his high school sweetheart, Mary Ann Roberson, on Aug. 27, 1965. He was drafted in November 1965 and entered the U.S. Army on his birthday a month later. He served as a front line helicopter mechanic in Vietnam as part of the 1st Air Cavalry Division from May 1966 to May 1967. He was honorably discharged in December 1967.
Bud and Ann lived in Fort Worth from 1967 to 1974, and after a brief time living in southern California, they settled back in Fort Worth with their family 1976. He began his career with Clear Channel in February 1976 and worked there for 41 years before his retirement in December 2016.
Bud was an avid sports fan and attended every sporting event that his children were in. He spent his retirement years spending as much time as he could with his grandchildren, attending every sporting event of theirs that he could.
Bud was a people person who could strike up conversation with anyone, anywhere, about anything. He loved his children and his grandchildren who affectionately called him Pop. He will be sorely missed, but the memories are fantastic and many.
Bud is survived by his best friend and wife of 56 years, Mary Ann Roberson Pickett; sister, Glenda Kay Freestone and her husband Jimmy, Safford, AZ; son Will and wife Caty, Fort Worth; daughter Erin Moore and husband Jay, Chino, CA; and his grandchildren, James Pickett, Elizabeth Pickett, Scotty Pickett and Kenzie Roberts. He is also survived by 11 nieces and nephews.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Disabled Veterans of America or your favorite charity. Family and friends may sign an online register book at greenwoodfuneralhomes.com.
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OBITUARIES
Dean Allen Shaffer

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.
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OBITUARIES
Betty Sue Bynum

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.
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OBITUARIES
Pedro Leon Olvera

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.
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