OBITUARIES

Gordon “Scotty” Daniel

Published

3 years ago

07/08/2022

October 31, 1932 – June 30, 2022
Rotan, TX – Gordon “Scotty” Daniel, 89, passed away on June 30, 2022.
A funeral service took place at 10 a.m. on July 06, at The First Baptist Church in Rotan.
Scotty was born on Oct. 31, 1932 in Houston to Roy Earl Daniel and Ethel Launa Daniel. He completed high school in 1950 in Albuquerque, NM and went on to Baylor University, where he graduated in 1954 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He met his wife, Erma Lee Branch, while at Baylor and the two married in 1958 at the First Baptist Church of Rotan.
After graduation, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force and was assigned to Dyess Air Force Base in Abilene. During this period, he flew the B-47 bomber as part of Strategic Air Command and participated in Cold War activities.
During one of his trips to Vietnam, a cargo plane full of medical evacuation patients he was flying was shot by enemy fire. Their lives were saved due to his quick actions and expert pilot skills. His heroic actions earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross. After being on active duty in the USAF, he transitioned to the USAF Reserves in 1952. He joined American Airlines as a pilot and continued to fly in the USAF reserves once a month.
He spent most of his career as a pilot for Braniff Airlines, while living in Bowie. During his time in Bowie, he also ran a fruit farm and cattle ranch with his family. He completed his career as a pilot with Australian Airlines out of Melbourne, Australia, where he retired in 1992 from both the airline and USAF Reserves. He then moved to Rotan and lived there until his passing. During his time in Rotan, he built airplanes, inspired the community with his insights and stories, developed a wind farm north of Rotan and spent time with his beloved wife.
Scotty was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Roy Earl Daniel, Jr.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife of sixty-four years, Erma Lee Daniel; children, Dale and Carole Daniel and Liesel and Greg Gruben and grandchildren, Jacob Lehrer, Joshua Lehrer, Olivia Daniel and Garrett Daniel.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the church of your choice.
Arrangement entrusted to Weathersbee-Ray Funeral Home of Rotan.

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OBITUARIES

Dean Allen Shaffer

Published

2 weeks ago

05/28/2025

bowienews

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

Published

2 weeks ago

05/28/2025

bowienews

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

Published

3 weeks ago

05/22/2025

bowienews

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.