OBITUARIES
Mary Elizabeth Campbell Swinney
September 26, 1947 – November 27, 2024
BOWIE – Mary Elizabeth Campbell Swinney, 77, passed away on Nov. 27, 2024. She passed away peacefully in Angel Fire, NM after joyfully preparing for Thanksgiving celebrations with her family. Known for her wonderful cooking and her habit of always making enough to feed an army, Mary found great joy in the gathering of loved ones around the table to share a meal and make memories.
A visitation was from 1-4 p.m. Dec. 8 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie, and from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 9, prior to the funeral service. A service to honor Mary Elizabeth Campbell Swinney’s life was at 2 p.m. on Dec. 9 at the First Methodist Church in Bowie.
A memorial in the Mansfield area will take place in the near future. Please contact 940-350-9104 for any questions.
She was born in Nocona to C.E. “Woody” and Idell Campbell. Mary lived a life rich with love, community and purpose. In her youth, she was an active member of 4-H, F.H.A, Montague Youth Fair and served as a majorette in the Bowie Band. These early passions for community and self-improvement shaped her into the remarkable teacher, loving mother and devoted grandmother she would become.
It was at the drive-in her parents owned that Mary met her future husband, Daryl Swinney. Perhaps it was over the glow of the projector, or through a shared love of the silver screen, but that chance meeting blossomed into a lifelong partnership filled with love and shared memories.
For 38 years, Mary devoted herself to teaching, shaping countless young minds with her quiet patience, deep understanding and steadfast belief in every student’s potential. Though she never sought recognition, her true reward was found in the success and growth of those she taught.
She found joy in life’s simplest and most meaningful moments – solving word puzzles with deep focus, playing with her grandchildren and conversations with friends and family. Beyond her hobbies, she was a woman of even-temperedness, thoughtful wisdom and a sense of humor that was always catching you off guard.
Mary Elizabeth Campbell Swinney is survived by her husband, Daryl Swinney, Mansfield; her children, Michael Swinney and wife Gaby, Midlothian and Stacy Swinney, Bowie; grandchildren, Michael, Kai, Camila, Celine and her siblings, Jim Campbell, Bowie and Ann Campbell Jay, Gorman, TX.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gladney Center for Adoption in Fort Worth at iamgladney.org or to the Tarrant Area Food Bank at tafb.org.
In a world of extremes, Mary was a steady, levelheaded presence – a grounding force for all who knew her.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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June 24, 1962 – May 18, 2025
BOWIE – Dean Allen Shaffer, 62, was escorted to the gates of heaven May 18, 2025 at 12:34 a.m. in the arms of his loving wife Christal Shaffer after complications of pneumonia
A celebration of life for Dean was held at 11 a.m. on May 31 at the First Baptist Church in Alvord followed by a meal for the family.
Dean was born June 24, 1962, in Lander, WY. While quiet and soft spoken, he had a mighty love for the Lord, his wife of 38 years and his family. Dean was an incredibly hard worker, but all who knew Dean also knew how generous he was. He enjoyed cooking outside, hosting get-togethers at their home, having a drink and listening to good music as well as spending time with his bees.
He is preceded in death by his mother-in-law, “Memom” Linda Stevens and loving sister-in-law, Terri Shaffer and sister-in-law, Linda Shaffer.
Dean is survived by his wife, Christal Shaffer; children, Justin Shaffer and wife Kayla, Miles Shaffer, and Ainsley Hernandez and husband Josue; his children in Christ, Chris Lovell, and Andrew Stevens and wife Sutton; grandchildren, Kayden Shaffer and fiancé Nathan Mac, Colton Shaffer and wife Payton, Jaid, Remi, Briggs, Watts, Hutch, Justice and Maverick; great-grandchild, Colter; his parents, James Oliver Shaffer and Alice Bethine; siblings, Randy Shaffer, Cheryl Shaffer and partner Mike Hoffman, Mike Shaffer and wife Kim, Cathey Tewes and husband Andy; numerous other nieces, nephews and family members.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
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April 3, 1929 – May 20, 2025
BOWIE – Betty Sue Bynum, 96, passed away on May 20, 2025 in Nocona, TX.
Betty was born on April 3, 1929 in Thornton to Thomas Everett and Eva May Stiff Hardaway. She attended elementary school in Van Alstyne and attended high school in Calvert. She graduated from Teachers College High School and continued on to North Texas State Teacher’s College graduating with a bachelor of arts, library science degree at age 20. In 1977, she continued her education obtaining a master of education degree at University of North Texas.
While attending college, Betty met her future husband, Floyd Arthur Bynum. Betty wanted to work and live on her own for a year before getting married, so they had a long distance courtship while she taught school for a year in Canyon, Texas. They decided they were meant for each other and married on Aug. 5, 1950 in McKinney.
After starting their family in 1951, Betty and Floyd moved to Bowie where Floyd was industrial arts teacher at Bowie High School. Betty was a stay-at-home mom for few years. In 1960, she restarted her teaching career, teaching sixth grade for many years, eventually moving to high school where she was librarian until her retirement in 1988. She was a lifetime member of TSTA and a member of TLA.
Betty is preceded in death by her parents; sister, Alma Lou Perkins and husband, Floyd A. Bynum.
Betty is survived by her three daughters, Nancy Headley, (Douglas), Jean Richards (John) and Patricia Johnson (Craig), grandchildren, Heather Morse, Alicia Hutchison, Jennifer Holloman, Justin Richards, Steven Johnson and Brian Johnson; seven great grandchildren and two nieces, Suzanne Scott and Dianne Herr.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie, TX.
Paid publication
May 19, 1976 – May 11, 2025
NOCONA – Pedro Leon Olvera, 48, died on May 11, 2025.
There was a rosary at 6 p.m. on May 18 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel in Nocona. A funeral service was at noon on May 19 at St. Jospeh’s Catholic Church in Nocona.
He was born on May 19, 1976 in Celya, Mexico Guanajuato to Juan Olvera and Felixa Leon. Olvera was a part of a big family and hard-worker all of his life. He worked mostly in agriculture as a rancher. He loved working on cars in his spare time, especially with his son. He married Blanca Torres in 1995 in Celya, Mexico Guanajuato.
He is preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Rosa and Juana Gomez; and nephew, Juan Gomez Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Blanca Olvera; Nocona; son, Pedro Jr. Olvera, Nocona; daughter, Mariana Hampton, Gainesville; sisters, Yolanda, Nocona and Margarita, Mexico; brothers, Juan, Luis, Santiago and Francisco, all of Mexico; a grandson; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of choice.
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