OBITUARIES
Virgil Hugh Phemister
March 23, 1932 – April 10, 2022
NOCONA – Virgil Hugh Phemister, 90, passed from this life on April 10, 2022.
A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on April 14, at the Nocona Church of Christ with Austin Wright officiating, under the direction of Scott-Morris Funeral Home. The family will receive visitors at 1 p.m. at the church. After the funeral, a burial will follow at Montague Perpetual Care Cemetery.
Hugh was born March 23, 1932 in Haskell, TX to Virgil and Ida Phemister and was one of nine children. From 1953-1954, Hugh proudly served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was deployed to the demilitarized zone, where he served as a tanker. In civilian life Hugh worked in the oil and gas industry, mostly as a pipeline operator for Lone Star Gas Co. He worked for Lone Star for 31 years until his retirement, then he enjoyed retirement for 31 years.
Hugh met Norma Lou Clapp and fell in love. They married June 1, 1974. They shared a deep, devoted love and from that day on, they were nearly inseparable. If Hugh wasn’t at work, he and Norma were almost always doing something together. Norma preceded Hugh in death on February 23, 2012.
Hugh loved to travel. He was proud to be able to say he had been to all of the world fairs and that he had set foot in all 50 states. He and Norma drove all over the country on vacations, including multiple trips to Branson, MO. As a thanks for his military service, Hugh was blessed to enjoy an Honor Flight, which included traveling to Washington D.C. to visit the Korean War memorial and various other sites.
Hugh loved his family. His siblings all had children and over the generations they grew to have a very large extended family. There were plenty of family members to love and Hugh loved them all. One of the greatest joys in Hugh’s life were the great family reunions they shared.
In his later years, Hugh moved in to Cherry Street village in Nocona. His friends there became a second family. Hugh was a faithful Christian all his life. He was very active member of the Nocona Church of Christ for several decades. Always the servant, Hugh was glad to serve his church wherever he was needed. He loved to sing and he led singing at church for many years. Over his lifetime Hugh served in every capacity, “except preaching, being an elder or a deacon.”
Hugh always arrived at precisely 9 a.m. Even when he did not have a specific role he was serving, he was committed to welcoming everyone who came in the door and making sure to shake every person’s hand. His friends at Cherry Street noted how every Sunday morning Hugh moved with purpose as he headed to church.
Anyone who know Hugh knows that he was a faithful, devoted Christian man. His life truly reflected the love of Jesus day-in and day-out. While Hugh will be greatly missed, he has gone to be with the Lord he loved all his life and to be reunited with his beloved Norma. Hugh lived out Philippians 1:21: To live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Hugh was preceded in death by his beloved wife; parents; brothers, Carlos, Marvin and Roy and sisters, Alma, Helen, Edith, Retith and Jenell.
He is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, great great-nieces and great great-nephews.
For those who wish to make a donation in Hugh’s memory, please consider Cherokee Home for Children, which held a special place in Hugh’s heart, as well as the Nocona Church of Christ youth fund, the American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association.
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OBITUARIES
Connie Stevens Hollowell
August 11, 1945 – December 21, 2024
BOWIE – Connie Stevens Hollowell, 79, went to be with the Lord on Dec. 21, 2024.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 26 at the White Family Funeral Home. A funeral service will be at 10 a.m. on Dec. 27 at the First Baptist Church in Bellevue with Pastors Robert Slayton and Ethan Hollowell officiating. Burial will follow at Briar Creek Cemetery in Bowie.
Connie was born on Aug. 11, 1945 in San Diego, CA to Pal and Evelyn Stevens. Connie accepted Christ at a young age. She graduated from Bowie High School in 1964 where she was selected as Band Sweetheart.
She married Bill Hollowell in Bellevue on Aug. 25, 2012. She worked many years in education as a paraprofessional in both Bowie Independent School District and Bellevue ISD. Her greatest loves were her family and spending time in the mountains.
Connie is preceded in death by her parents, Pal and Evelyn Stevens.
She is survived by her husband, Bill Hollowell, Bowie; daughter, Michelle Vassar Cassetty and husband Bryon, Bellevue; daughter, Jody Vassar Carter and husband Chris, Haslet; daughter, Karen Coffman and husband Toby, Ravia, OK; daughter, Toni Corbin and husband David, Tishomingo, OK; son, Steven Hollowell and wife Dana, Kingston, OK; sister, Debbie Ashley and husband Mark, Stoneburg; brother, Pal Stevens, Jr. and wife Darlene, Bear Lake, PA; grandchildren, Christopher Tate, Jasmyne Tate, Brandt Cassetty, Devon Cassetty, Chace Corbin and wife Megan, Jarret Corbin, Dani Corbin, Quinten Corbin, Kristen Franks and husband Shane, Ethan Hollowell and wife Kortni, Shelby Hollowell and Faith Hollowell; great-grandchildren, Aniyah Bonner, Ember Bonner, Zayvien Garrett, Shae Franks and Reagan Franks and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorials can be made to Wise Regional Health System Dialysis Center in Decatur or First Baptist Church of Bellevue.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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OBITUARIES
Barbara Louise (David) Gill
November 4, 1937 – December 12, 2024
KINGWOOD, TX – Barbara Louise (David) Gill, 87, died Dec. 12, 2024, in Houston.
A graveside service took place at noon on Dec. 20 at Vashti Cemetery with Kenneth Liggett as the officiant.
She was born on Nov. 4, 1937 as the only child of Keith and Otha Mae David. She graduated from Duncanville High School. She married William S. Gill on Dec. 23, 1955. Together they had three children and moved from Texas to New Jersey to California with her husband’s career. She later returned to college and majored in special education, teaching for Humble Independent School District.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her husband, William Gill; children, Keith Gill, David Gill and Mona Bostwick; three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
OBITUARIES
Joan Winn
November 10, 1934 – December 12, 2024
BOWIE – Joan Winn, 90, went home to be with the Lord on Dec. 12, 2024 in Wichita Falls.
The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 16 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A funeral service took place at 2 p.m. on Dec. 17 at Southside Baptist Church in Bowie, with Dr. Tony Rogers as the officiant. Burial followed at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie.
Joan was born on Nov. 10, 1934 in Bonita, TX, the youngest child of Robert L. and Euderah May (Sanders) Pierce, cherished as the baby sister in a family of six. She went to Nocona High School and, on Dec. 31, 1951, married the love of her life, Bobby Winn. Their marriage exemplified enduring love and partnership.
Joan worked as a teller and officer at First National Bank of Bowie for more than 30 years, where her kindness and love greatly impacted her colleagues and customers. In her free time, Joan flourished in her creativity. She enjoyed crafting, sewing and painting, gifting her creations to the ones she loved.
A follower of Christ, Joan was a Southside Baptist Church charter member, where she lived her belief in service to others. She loved people unconditionally and was intentional in all she did, embodying reliability and love. Joan’s life was a shining example of selflessness, compassion and steadfast dedication to her family, friends and community.
Joan Winn’s love for people and passion for serving others will forever be remembered by those fortunate enough to have known her. Her intentionality, creativity and unwavering presence made her a cornerstone of her family and community. She will be dearly missed but lovingly celebrated as a woman who truly lived a life of faith, love and purpose.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Euderah Pierce; husband, Bobby Winn; son, Ricky Winn; brothers, Clark and Wallace Pierce and her sisters, Bonnie Bruce, Nancy Robbins and Patricia Cross.
Joan is survived by her loving children, Becky Winn and David Winn and wife Kim; her adoring grandchildren, Miranda Tate and husband Josh and Derek Winn and wife Nichole and her treasured great-grandchildren, Bryce Tate, Corben Wolsey, Kaygan Winn, Ramzey, Brooks, Oaklee Tate, Boone and Dasher Winn. Joan’s legacy lives on through her family and all the lives she touched.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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