OBITUARIES
Ernest Earl “Turk” Largent
Ernest Earl “Turk” Largent
March 20, 1940 – November 24, 2023
BOWIE – Ernest Earl “Turk” Largent, 83, died surrounded by his family on Nov. 24, 2023 in Bowie.
The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. on Nov. 28 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie.
A funeral service will take place at 2 p.m. on Nov. 29 at the First Baptist Church of Bowie with the Rev. Mike Henson officiating. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie.
Turk was born March 20, 1940 in Bridgeport to Ernest and Grace Largent. From 1963 to 1966, he served as an MP in the Army and was stationed in Germany for most of his deployment. Turk retired as a car hauler and truck driver after 33 years of service with Auto Convoy in Mesquite where he held the position of Union Steward. He served the City of Bowie on the city council for several years.
Turk was an active member of First Baptist Church of Bowie and for more than 30 years and maintained the buses as well as drove for the Enerjetics department on out of town trips. For more than a decade, he was the head cook at Falls Creek for the FBC youth department and also cooked on mission trips to New Mexico. He loved serving his church and God.
Turk had a commercial pilot license and flew as a hobby. He thoroughly enjoyed motorcycle rides on his Gold Wing with friends all over Texas and occasionally across the USA.
While Turk had a successful career, was an active member of the community, and cherished his church family, his greatest honor was being a husband to wife Martha and Papaw to his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Turk considered family his most valuable asset.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Bob Largent and Alvin Largent.
Turk is survived by his wife of 44 years, Martha Largent, Bowie; daughters, Angelia Dean, Bowie, Taylor Short, McKinney and April Burney, Waco; four grandchildren, Malleri McGee, College Station, Miranda Stringer, Petty, Hunter Thymes, Waco and Adriana Turcu, Wichita Falls; and four great-grandchildren, Jaydon Burnett, Jackson Robertson, Kaia Short and Emerson Turcu.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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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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