OBITUARIES
Connie Rue Thomas
October 20, 1955 – April 10, 2023
BOWIE – Connie Rue Thomas, 67, passed away peacefully at home on April 10, 2023 in Bowie.
The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. on April 15 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A funeral service will be at 2 p.m. on April 16 at Southside Baptist Church. Burial will follow at Post Oak Cemetery in Post Oak, TX.
Connie was born in Bowie on Oct. 20, 1955, to Jesse Wayne and Minnie Lou Geer. She was the youngest of three sisters who were all proud Bowie Jackrabbit mascots. She graduated from Bowie High School in 1974. Connie attended Draughon’s Business School and later married Nelson Thomas on May 28, 1976. They built their life together in Bowie raising three children and creating countless memories. They grew from being Mom and Dad to eventually being Mops and Pops. She spent decades as a photographer shooting weddings, seniors, sports and nature.
Connie lived and loved big. She was a true original. She lived life to the fullest in every possible way with an unmatched zest and passion for her family and celebrating life. She had a heart the size of Texas and shared it with everyone she met. She was Auntie Connie beloved by so many. She had an infectious way of always spreading joy wherever she went. The love Connie shared in her lifetime will create ripples for years to come throughout our community and afar.
She loved traveling with Nelson anywhere from Post Oak to Alaska and looked forward to her annual trips to Red River, NM and Galveston. She loved being Mops to her grandkids. She loved gardening, decorating for the holidays, reading and playing the piano. Connie loved her hometown, the community and was the Bowie Jackrabbits’ biggest fan. She created an experience around every holiday and always found a way to gather her immediate and extended family to create new memories. Connie knew how to make someone feel special, supported and she never met a stranger.
Connie had profound respect for her mom’s career in teaching and continued her legacy through the annual Minnie Lou Geer Scholarship Fund. She was proud to be a part of a family of educators and in her own way was a teacher of life, positively influencing countless people.
She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Samuel Shannon Campsey, Georgia Roth and Willie and Vida Geer; parents, Jesse Wayne Geer and Minnie Lou Geer and sister, Deborah Harris.
Connie is survived by her husband, Nelson Thomas, Bowie; three children, Jennifer Glover and husband Lyal Glover, Northlake, Wes Thomas and wife Linda Thomas, Denton and Chase Thomas and wife Amber Thomas, Bowie; five grandchildren, Kingston Thomas, Ian Thomas, Campsey Thomas, Jax Thomas and Crue Thomas; one sister, Martha Vincent; Bowie; 10 nieces and nephews, Wayne Leek and wife Patty Leek, Brock, Valarie Gill and husband Darren Gill, Bowie, Marcus Vincent and wife Jennifer Vincent, Huntsville, AL, Melissa Vincent, Gosford, Australia, Michelle Vincent, Bowie, TaShawna Nash and husband Darron Nash, Seattle, Aubrey Lehotta and husband Justin Lehotta, Ryley Thomas and wife Jessica Thomas, Madisen Ricoy and husband Omelino Ricoy and Jolie Thomas and a host of great-nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Minnie Lou Scholarship Fund can be made at Legend Bank.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
OBITUARIES
Steven Douglas Drury
February 9, 1968 – July 4, 2026
BOWIE – Steven Douglas Drury, 58 died on July 4, 2026.
A private celebration of life for the family was on July 10.
He was an entrepreneur and created his business Drill Rig Depot.
He is survived by his wife, Christina Drury; four children, Sydney, Ben, Bailey and Josie; six grandchildren; parents, Don and Lois Drury; and brothers, David, Danny and Christopher.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
OBITUARIES
John Wayne Shelton
December 22, 1959 – July 1, 2026
SUNSET – John Wayne Shelton, 66, died on July 1, 2026.
There was a celebration of life for him from 5 – 7 p.m. on July 10 at Nocona Brewery.
He was born on Dec. 22, 1959 to Wade and Thelma Shelton in Nocona. He worked in the oilfield most of his life. He married Stephanie Burleson on Dec. 13, 1984 in Nocona.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his children, Jared Shelton, Bowie and Stacia Lorenz, Tennessee; sister, Serina Thomas, Bowie; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Memorial donations made to the American Heart Association, www.heart.org.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home of Nocona.
OBITUARIES
Weldon Ray Duff
March 3, 1962 – July 6, 2026
WICHITA FALLS – Weldon Ray Duff, 64, died on July 6, 2026.
There was a visitation from 6 – 7 p.m. on July 10 at Jerry Woods Chapel in Nocona. A graveside service was at 10 a.m. on July 11 at Ringgold Cemetery with Richard Allen officiating. Pallbearers will be Mike Bonham, Jimmy Smith, Hatch Womack, Lynn Bugsy Allen, Blake Allen, Marlin Franklin, Joe Barnhill and Butch Matthews.
Duff was born on March 3, 1962 in Henrietta to Benjamin Franklin Duff Jr. and Myra Durham Duff. He worked as a machinist and was known as a “Jack-Of-All-Trades.”
Duff was a member of Bowie Masonic Lodge 578. He married Jowana Bussey on Aug. 8, 1980 in Ringgold.
He is preceded in death by his parents.
He is survived by his wife, Jowana Duff, Ringgold; daughter, Jessica Lierly, Collinsville; sister, Becky Case, Stoneburg; brother, Benjamin Franklin Duff III, Lonegrove, OK and three grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Wichita Falls, 440 Cypress Ave., Wichita Falls or Ringgold Cemetery Association, 1108 Hanson Rd., Ringgold.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home in Nocona.
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