OBITUARIES
Emma Nell Durham-Dever
September 12, 1942 – April 15, 2023
BELLEVUE – Emma Nell Durham-Dever, 80, was called home to be with the Lord on April 15, 2023.
Friends and family were welcome to pay their respects throughout the day on April 17, until noon April 18 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A graveside service was at 2 p.m. on April 18 at Bellevue Cemetery with Pastor Robert Slayton as the officiant.
Emma Nell was born in Terral, OK on Sept. 12, 1942 to Earl Reynolds and Ruby Larison. She graduated from Terral High School in 1960 as valedictorian of her senior class. On June 33, 1960, Emma Nell married Curtis Durham, and together they raised eight children.
She is preceded in death by her parents; her late husband; son, Jerry Durham; sister, Gladys Mae; brother, Jr. Reynolds and brothers-in-law, Wilton Underwood, Johnny Wilson, Bill Woods and Mike Haney.
Emma Nell is survived by her children, Curtis Durham Jr., Bellevue, Bobbie Kay Barnett and partner Bill Prater, Bellevue, Becky McCullar and husband Red, Bellevue, Betty Jo Patton and husband Mac, Malone, TX, Barbara Foster and husband Darrell, Bowie, Brenda Jones, Bowie and Beverly Jones, Bowie; 21 grandkids; 42 great-grandkids; two great-great-grandkids; sisters, Alpha Underwood, Nocona, Opal Wilson, Duncan, OK, Karen Reynolds, Whitewright, Sandy Scully and husband Danny, Arlington and Barbara Haney, Bedford; brothers, Bill Reynolds, Saint Jo, Johnny Reynolds and wife Malinda, Ringgold and Charlie Reynolds and wife Laurie, Terral, OK; sisters-in-law, Jo-Ann Reynolds, California and Doris Durham, Henrietta; numerous nieces, nephews and cousins and a very large, loving church family.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
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.
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.
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.
-
NEWS3 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS4 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS3 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS4 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS3 years agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
Show us something good9 years agoCountry music star children perform in Bowie
-
NEWS3 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
100th Birthday4 years agoLooking back at the 1958 Centennial edition of The Bowie News