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Virginia Ella Crumpler – Bowie News
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Virginia Ella Crumpler

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Virginia Ella Crumpler
June 15, 1926 – December 22, 2023
BOWIE – Virginia Crumpler, 97, passed through to her heavenly home, reunited with all loved ones she’d been waiting to see for many years, including her beloved son, Dr. Paul Hulen Crumpler on Dec. 22, 2023.
A visitation will begin at 1 p.m. on Jan. 27. The celebration of life honoring Virginia will follow at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church, Bryan.
Virginia, daughter of Horace and Margaret Hatcher, was born June 15, 1926, in Cherryvale, KS, youngest of nine children. The family moved to Rogers, AR, when she was six, and two years later to Monett, MO, where she graduated from high school in 1944. She moved to Houston, to live with an older sister. Virginia then went to business school and found employment with a newly established oil company. While in Houston, she joined Beta Sigma Phi Business Sorority, representing the Eta Phi Chapter. In 1947 Virginia was named “Sweetheart of Beta Sigma Phi.”
In 1949 she met and married Dr. Hulen Crumpler, a family practitioner in Bowie, who along with his brother, surgeon Dr. Prentice Crumpler, and gynecologist, Dr. E. P. Harris, owned and operated the Bowie Clinic and Hospital.
Virginia loved bowling and was regularly on a team in Bowie until they closed down the bowling alley. Then her team traveled to Wichita Falls every week to bowl. While there, Virginia’s skills were honored with an appearance on TV when the amateur once achieved the highest score in the tournament (277/300), earning a bonus check.
In the Bowie community, Virginia championed youth activities through the Bowie Independent School District Booster Club, Bowie ISD Band Parents, Hospital Auxiliary and Boy Scouts. She helped raise money for scouting cots and tents by having a spaghetti supper at church—she cooked all the food, including pies for dessert. Virginia was awarded the distinction of “Woman of the Year” in 1971 by the Bowie Chamber of Commerce.
The Bowie Hospital Auxiliary recognized her for more than 1,000 hours of service, as she helped organize the Junior Auxiliary, training high school students for work at the hospital during the summer months. Her gifts of time and unselfish devotion fed souls and children alike. For the booster club, Virginia was responsible for the football and all-sports banquets—from selling tickets to providing home-cooked meals. Whether she cooked 50 pounds of her famous chili to fill bowls or top hot dogs, it was natural for her to serve 350–400 people at the banquets and she made it look easy.
Her Christian church work in the Baptist faith started in Bowie, where she began by enrolling babies into the church. From there, she became director of the nursery, working with toddlers, beginners and pre-school ages. Virginia worked in bible school every year and was active in her Sunday school class.
In Bowie, Virginia kept a beautiful home; her yard was perfectly manicured. She took pride in taking care of the yard, from planting trees and shrubs, to pruning, spraying and fertilizing.
Virginia made Bryan her home in October 1984. She began working at Texas Agricultural Extension Service as a receptionist in 1985 and retired in 1998. Her main interest in life, though, was her children. She attended every function they had and lovingly took care of their every need throughout her lifetime.
She joined First Baptist Church of Bryan in December 1984 and enjoyed 40 years of faithful friendships in her Sunday school class. Later, Virginia became active in “KITS” (Keeping In Touch), a group especially for 55+ members, who liked to play 42 and other games. She loved to attend church each Wednesday night for fellowship and worship. She was presented the Outstanding Senior Adult Volunteer award for 2010–2011, for “her unselfish time and effort aiding in the success of the Adult 55+ Ministry.”
Maintaining a vital, active lifestyle, Virginia loved to eat out with different friends several times a week and her friends gathered regularly in her home in more recent years as her journeys outside home became more restricted. There were never any needs she had that her children didn’t meet for her as she had always been there for them as they were growing up.
Virginia is survived by son, James Robert and daughter-in-law, Kristel Crumpler, Bowie; daughter, Jeannie Michelle (Crumpler) Mansill and son-in-law, Owen Mansill, Bryan; grandchildren, Jason Goss (Jennifer), Justin Goss (Bridget) and Calli Goss Halbrook (Brandon), Jameson (Michaela) and Jordan Crumpler, Sarah (Dan), Jason Crumpler, and Jenna Crumpler, as well as numerous nieces and nephews and great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in Virginia’s memory to Project Unity, the community family nonprofit created and founded by her daughter, Jeannie, in 1995. Donations may be sent to Project Unity, P.O. Box 2812, Bryan, TX 77805. Express condolences at CallawayJones.com.
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Wade Shelton

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November 24, 1929 – April 28, 2025
NOCONA – Wade Shelton, 95, died on April 28, 2025 in Bowie.
A visitation was at 11 a.m. on May 3 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel. A funeral service followed at 2 p.m. at the gazebo at Molsbee Chapel Cemetery on May 5 officiated by Pastor Phillip Weitner.
He was born on Nov. 24, 1929 in Nocona to Walter Shelton and Mildred Kidwell Shelton. He was a hard-worker most of his life working mostly as an industrial machine mechanic and also managing the drive-in movie theater in Nocona. He was a member, deacon and sometimes ministered at Molsbee Chapel Church of the Brethren. He married Thelma Wright on Nov. 24, 1956 in Lubbock. She preceded him in death in 2012.
He is preceded in death by his wife; parents; brothers, Weldon Shelton and Paul Shelton; and sisters, Oleta and Bonnie Baggett.
He is survived by his children, Serina Thomas, Bowie, John Shelton, Sunset and Steve Holcomb, Nocona; four grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; one great-great granddaughter; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.

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Fern Hollaway Caswell

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July 7, 1925 – April 28, 2025
BOWIE – Fern Hollaway Caswell passed on April 28, 2025 at the age of exactly 99 years, nine months and three weeks.
A graveside service took place at 11 a.m. on May 1 at Sunset Cemetery in Sunset with Doyle Wade officiating.
Fern was born at her parents’ home just outside of Sunset on July 7, 1925, she was the youngest child and only daughter of J. A. (Jim) Hollaway and Arah Sigler Hollaway. Growing up with three older brothers, she learned quite early on how to hold her own when faced with difficulties. She graduated from Sunset High School as the salutatorian of the Class of 1941. While in school, she was a talented and celebrated volleyball player on winning teams coached by J. I. (Speck) Caswell, the man who would eventually become her husband of 48 years.
Before her marriage, Fern worked at what is now known as the North Texas State Hospital, Wichita Falls Campus, first on the wards and eventually in the business office. After her marriage, the birth of the couple’s children, and the family’s move to Alvord in 1954, she devoted herself to rearing her daughters and working alongside her husband on the family ranch.
After the girls left home, she worked for the Lorch Company, managing their outlet stores in Decatur and Gainesville until the company closed. After her husband’s death, she began a long and varied career at DFW International Airport, driving carts and working in customs and security, all jobs which clearly suited her love of people watching. After getting up at 2 a.m. and driving to the airport three days a week for many years, she eventually retired at 89. Regardless of when and where she was working, she was always Granny and always available to the grandsons and great grandchildren she adored.
An excellent seamstress, Fern had a strong work ethic and a keen fashion sense, both of which she imparted to her daughters. An avid reader of biographies, she was also a lover of all animals, particularly Siamese cats. A longtime member of the First Baptist Church of Alvord, she also served as the District President of the Parent-Teachers Association of Texas.
Fern was predeceased by her husband; parents; three brothers, Berniece, Clay and Harold Hollaway; niece, Deanna Hollaway Hooper and great-niece, Tonya Davis Wallum.
She is survived by her daughters and their spouses, Lana Caswell-Garcia and H.S. (Bert) Garcia, Sherman and Karen Caswell Fowler and Donald Fowler, Chico; grandsons, Wes Fowler, and Kase Fowler and his wife Leslie Bain Fowler, all of Alvord; and great grandchildren, Rachae Fowler Richey and her husband Senior Airman Hunter Richey, Colorado Springs and Keegan Fowler, Alvord; nephews, Billy Dean Hollaway and his wife Sheri, North Little Rock, AR, Bernis Hollaway, Carr, CO and Bruce Hollaway, Buena Vista, AR; and several great and great-great-nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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Gary Leo Fergueson

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November 11, 1944 – April 19, 2025
BELLEVUE – Gary Leo Fergueson, 80, died on April 19, 2025.
A graveside service will take place at 11 a.m. on April 24 at Vashti Cemetery with Michael Brannon and Jeff Brannon officiating.
He was born on Nov. 11, 1944 to Vera (Chappell) and Lewis Fergueson. He worked in the food and grocery industry at multiple store chains beginning in Fort Worth and ending in Bowie. He also worked as a rancher at his family farm in Vashti. Fergueson proudly served his country in the United States Army, he completed his basic training in San Fransico and was stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and sister, Alta Fergueson Brannon.
He is survived by his nephew, Jeff Brannon; niece, Krista Brannon Blackrock; brother-in-law Michael Brannon and a very special friend of 60 years, Helen Ulbig.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

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