OBITUARIES

Ava Carol (Lewis) Lawson

Published

3 years ago

06/20/2023

August 7, 1941 – June 15, 2023
VASHTI – Ava Carol (Lewis) Lawson, 81, went to be with her Lord and Savior, and to be reunited with her husband and first born son, on June 15, 2023.
The family received friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on June 20 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. on June 21 at the Vashti Baptist Church with Pastor Greg Fletcher officiating. Burial will follow at Vashti Cemetery.
Ava was born on Aug. 7, 1941. She married the love of her life on Jan. 2, 1959. They were married for 55 years before he departed this earth. Ava loved her family and was happy any time she was able to spend time with them.
Ava was a seamstress for the dress factory and Haggar Slack Company in Bowie. She later retired from Nokona Athletic Goods in Nocona. Ava was a member of the Vashti Baptist Church and enjoyed supporting her community and the Vashti Volunteer Fire Department with her baked goods.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Cordie “C.D.” and Ruby Lewis; husband, Verne A. Lawson Jr.; son, Phillip Len Lawson; sisters, Bonnie Jackson and Jeannie Yowell and grandson, John Arthur Lawson.
Ava is survived by her sisters, Clea Buechler, Bowie and Cordieann Bright and husband Charley, Haughton, LA; daughter-in-law, Lisa Lawson, Vashti; son, Charles “C.D.” Lawson and wife Kathy, Vashti; daughter, Sue Phillips and husband Tony, Vashti; grandchildren, Cody Lawson and wife Shonda, Bowie, Heather Lawson, Watauga, Bryson Lawson and wife Taylor, Montague, C.W. Lawson and wife Jeannie, Bowie, Cordell Lawson and wife Alyssa, Wynnewood, OK and Mikaela Phillips, Texarkana; 10 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

Paid publication

1418 Highway 59 N. Bowie, TX | (940)-872-9993

OBITUARIES

Steven Douglas Drury

Published

7 days ago

07/15/2026

bowienews

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

Published

7 days ago

07/15/2026

bowienews

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

Published

7 days ago

07/15/2026

bowienews

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.