The Graham Leader Call Center Account

Stephen Gayle Bodine went to his heavenly home with a glorified body. He was born to Walter and Myrtle Bodine on June 8, 1941. He had three sisters and two brothers. Following graduation from Bangs ISD, where he was very athletic and a friend to many, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree at Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas. He met and married the love of his life, Cecelia Adams, on July 27, 1975. Many happy events happened in the 49 years he and Cecelia were married. They purchased land outside of Perrin, TX. He retired from Lockheed, after 35 years and enjoyed living in the country gardening and farming. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Perrin, TX where he...

Glenn Todd DeVries, 62, passed away Wednesday, July 10 in Wichita Falls. A memorial service will be held Saturday, July 27 at his home. He was born April 19, 1962 to Lois J (Roth) DeVries and Duane M DeVries in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Glenn was raised on the family farm where he enjoyed riding on his horse Prince. He was even part of a saddle club in grade school, and active in 4-H in which he won many ribbons. Glenn enjoyed field work, mostly because he didn't have to do chores. He once dreamed of being a scientist. Glenn was fond of Nesquik chocolate milk and cookies, occasionally sneaking an extra. He had been married to Kelly Phillips Jones and had three boys Mark, Jacob, and...

Conita H. Helton, 83, of Bedford, passed away July 2nd, 2024. Conita was born June 22nd, 1941 in Olney, Texas, the daughter of Garland and Alene Hankins of Newcastle, Texas. She was a 1959 graduate of Newcastle High School and North Texas State University (UNT) in 1963. She was a long-time employee of Exxon and was among the first women to become a supervisor of convenience stores and later a territorial manager. She was proceeded in death by her parents and brother Wayne Hankins. Mrs. Helton is survived by her husband, Larry of Bedford, Texas, and several cousins. Visitation will be at Colonial Funeral Home of Irving (606 West Airport Freeway) on Monday, July 8th from 6 to 8 PM. Graveside...

James David Singleton, 68, was embraced by the Lord's loving hands on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. David was a devoted husband to Blanca for 28 years, a caring father to his three children, James, Eddie, and Britney, and a joyful grandfather to his two granddaughters, Abigail and Adelyn. Above all, David was a dedicated servant of God, committed to sharing the good news that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose on the third day so that we can be saved. Born on May 10, 1956, in Graham, Texas, to William Hyde Singleton and Florence Elizabeth Singleton, David was raised in the church and devoted his life to ministry on March 17, 1978, when he received the baptism of the Holy Ghost....

Jimmy Doyle Conway, age 74, passed away May 20, 2024. Born in Jacksboro on March 24, 1950 to Laverne and Doyle Conway. Jim proudly served his country in the US Army during the Vietnam War and was grateful for how that shaped his life. Jim was accepting, generous and quick to forgive. Even though he had no sons of his own, many have expressed that Jim was like a father to them. He loved to share his passion of hunting and fishing to anyone who was interested and always extended an invitation to the Jacksboro Home Place. He was preceded in death by his parents Laverne and Doyle and his grandson Jonathon. He is survived by his wife Jennifer; daughters Debbie, Connie and Tammy; grandchildren...

Decatur ~ Ann S. Henderson, 91, a retired rancher and homemaker, went to be with our Lord Saturday, May 4, 2024 in Decatur. Funeral is 2:00 p.m. Monday, May 13, 2024 at First United Methodist Church of Decatur with burial in Joplin Fairview Cemetery. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Rev. Dr. Nick McRae and Rev. Johnny Irish will officiate. Pallbearers include Michael Benton, Travis Stephan, James Stephan, Jason Goodell, Michael Buckley, and Stephen Smotherman. Ann was born on July 31, 1932 to Jess and Alta Swetnam in Wizard Wells, Texas. She was united in marriage to Bob Henderson on November 4, 1950 in Jacksboro. Ann was a life-long Methodist and...

Sam Vernon Akins, age 90, of Bedford, Texas, passed away Friday, April 12, 2024, in Dallas, Texas. A funeral service in celebration of his life is scheduled for Thursday, April 25, 10:00 am, at White's Chapel Methodist Church in Southlake, TX with a reception to follow. The family will hold a private burial at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery later that day. A proud sixth generation Texan, he was born on April 21, 1933, to Vernon R. and Yvonne (Jeter) Akins in Wichita Falls, Texas. Sam grew up in Jacksboro (JHS Class of 1950) and graduated from the University of North Texas in 1954 where he was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. A proud American patriot and veteran, Sam served in the US...

Dr. John Baen passed away suddenly on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. He was with some of his many friends on a fishing trip in Costa Rica. Following a few days of doing what he loved, he shared a meal with close friends, swapped a few stories and a joke or two, then suddenly collapsed and was unable to be resuscitated. His visions beyond the American Dream and his incredible energy helped "make things happen" for his family and so many others fortunate to walk with him on his remarkably busy "road of life." Both of his parents, Spencer Roe Baen and Joyce Kirkland Baen, were natives of San Antonio, Texas. He was born June 19th, 1948, while his Army Officer father was completing two (2) PhD...

After a long battle with congestive heart failure, at the age of 90, Jack Donald "Don" Baxter passed at Audie Murphy VA Hospital in San Antonio Texas on April 4, 2024. Don was born in Olney, Texas in 1934, and like many families at that time, the Baxter's moved around West Texas working the cotton fields and oil fields. Don started picking cotton at 8 years old and was running an oil crew at 17. As soon as Don turned 18, he joined the Navy and served on the USS Essex, where he roamed the world. Returning to Graham, he met and married Wanda Freeze Hogan on Oct. 3, 1956. The couple and 3 children moved to Dallas where Don joined and then retired after 25 years from the Dallas Fire...

Tommy Bates was born February 3, 1944 in Brady, Texas and passed away March 22, 2024. Tommy is proceeded in death by his parents M.Z. (Buck) and Mary (Coffey) Bates; and his brother Kenny Bates. He is survived by is wife Kathleen Bates of Graham; son Michael Bates, and husband Ryan Flint of Dallas; sister Darla Wilcox of Angleton; brother Jimmy Bates and wife Linda of Mineral Wells; sister Kathy Pippins of Burleson; step-daughter Teresa Donaghey and husband Jack of Ruidoso, NM. Tommy was a caring son, a good brother, a committed father and loving spouse. He was looked up to by his co-workers at the John R Lindsey Sate Jail in Jacksboro. He was known by all who knew him for his kind...

Brenda Joyce Ball "The General", 76 of Breckenridge died on March 8, 2024 at the home of her son and daughter-in-law in Keller, Texas. The daughter of Gladys and Walter J Reynolds, Brenda was born in Breckenridge, Texas on December 7, 1947. She graduated from Breckenridge High School in 1966. Brenda's passion was serving people, first in the restaurant industry at the Dairy Delight, Dairy Mart, and Chaparral, and later in the dental profession for almost 50 years. For the last 6 years, she continued serving her community by working as a contract rural carrier delivering the mail to customers in Stephens and Young Counties. Brenda's home was a favorite gathering place for nieces, nephews,...

Wanda Jean Elenburg, 89, went to be with our Lord on Tuesday, February 27th, 2024 in Bridgeport. Graveside Service will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 1st, 2024 at Oakwood Cemetery in Jacksboro. Family will receive friends Thursday 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Hawkins Funeral Home in Bridgeport. Tony Elenburg and Eugene Weldon will officiate. Pallbearers are Kagen Elenburg, Lane Elenburg, Gunter Elenburg, Kane Elenburg, Blake Bowen, and Mike Thornton. Honorary Pallbearers to include Wes Karasek, Joe McCoy, Coby Myers, Carl Smith, Barry Tarp, Jake Gornbein, and Gene Bolton. Jean was born on January 26, 1935 to Les Travis and Ethel (McCoy) Nichols in Jacksonville, Texas. She was united in marriage...

The Oswalt Family lost a kind and loving brother, father, brother-in-law, grandfather and uncle Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024. Dr. Charles Edward Oswalt passed away in Dallas due to complications of Parkinson's Disease contracted from Agent Orange while serving his country as a MASH Surgeon/Physician in Vietnam. Chuck was born Oct. 30, 1944, in Galveston, to Dr. Charles E. Oswalt (Ozzie) and Eugenia Dawson (Gene) Oswalt. He received his education in Fort Stockton schools and attended Texas Christian University. He then attended the University of Texas Medical Branch for his M.D. degree, following training was in General Surgery. He served as a MASH surgeon in Vietnam. Following the army, he...

Thora Jane Flack was born December 18, 1936, in Braddock, PA, at 7 PM. Her parents, William Henry Flack and Sarah Evelyn Hyde Flack, took her home to Pitcairn, where she was raised, attended church, completed elementary school, and graduated from high school, Class of 1954. She married Paul Herman Thurn, on June 14, 1958. She traveled with him throughout his USAF career. They had one daughter, Tacy, in 1961. Thora earned three degrees in literature, the last being her doctorate from Texas Christion University in 1990. She was a professor at TCU for several years. She was an avid writer and active at the library, and other clubs in Weatherford. She and Paul made their home in Peaster for the...

Nita Harrison Wiloth Burton was born on Tuesday, October 15, 1929 to Emmett Harrison and Maggie Walker Harrison in Breckenridge, Texas. She passed away on February 7, 2024 at her home. She attended Breckenridge schools. She was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church for over sixty-five years. She started working very early in life and continued all her life. She taught her children to honor God and keep him first in their life, to work hard and always love your family. She was married to Rudy Wiloth and raised their six children. Rudy passed away on February 25, 1978. On March 11, 1989, she married Albert Burton and they spent the next 34 1/2 years enjoying each other and their family. She was...

Donn J King, 74, of Bedford, Texas, passed away on January 31, 2024. He was born on December 18, 1949, in Columbus, Ohio, to Floyd E. King and Helen C. King. Donn is survived by his loving daughter Stephanie (Boone) Campbell, his cherished grandchildren Calder and Davee Campbell, brother Pete (Camille) King of Orient, Ohio, brother Jeff (Christina) King of Dublin, Ohio, nephew Jason (Avery) King, nephew Jared (Maggie) King and numerous great nieces and nephews. His father, Floyd, his mother, Helen, and his brother, Gary King, preceded him in death. Growing up in Columbus, Ohio, Donn attended St. Mary's Catholic School in the German Village. After graduating in 1967, he embarked on a...

Phyllis (Kilpatrick Schlaepfer) Durichek was a kind, generous and adventurous mom, Mema, wife, daughter, aunt and sister. She loved with all her heart and was loved by many. She was born to Edward Daniel and Myrtle Agnes (King) Kilpatrick on August 10, 1933, in Breckenridge, married Peter Durichek, Jr. on December 16, 1984, in Fort Worth, and departed this world January 29, 2024, in Keene. She loved children (especially babies), animals, nature and the color lavender. She enjoyed bird-watching and was delighted when she'd find cardinals at her bird feeders. When her two sons were young, she helped them rescue several animals, including a skunk and squirrel. She was a member of the...

Maurine Pevehouse McCluer went home to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, January 15, 2024 at the age of 103. She was born February 11, 1920 in Jermyn, Texas to Walter L. and Ida Mae (Streun) Pevehouse. Maurine was saved at the age of 12 in the Jermyn Baptist Church and was baptized in Camron Creek by Rev. P.J. Harmonson. She graduated as valedictorian and attended Texas Woman's University. Maurine married Kenneth McCluer in Jermyn, Texas at the home of her parents on July 27, 1983. He preceded her in death on June 28, 1997 after 59 years of marriage. Maurine was a faithful and active member of the First Baptist Church of Graham, Texas. She taught various Sunday School...

Luther Edward Steele of Midland, Texas peacefully passed away in Dallas on December 30, 2023. He was born in Crystal Falls, Texas near Breckenridge, Texas on May 22, 1929 to Henry Issac Steele and Lula Wesley. He had 3 sisters, Gladys Webber, Clara Bordelon and Ethyl Cook - all of Breckenridge. Luther married Dorothy Jean Steele and they were together until she passed in 2004. As a child of the Great Depression, he collected and used things that others did not have a use for. His creativity was outstanding. Before joining the Army, he was a "cowpuncher" on the family farm near Possum Kingdom Lake. Luther was a Military Policeman during the Korean War, stationed in Hawaii. He returned...

Betty JoAnn Biels Hartgrove (nee Glover) entered her Heavenly home on Wednesday, December 27, 2023 due to complications from Parkinson's Disease. JoAnn was surrounded by the love of her family as she passed. JoAnn was born on February 22, 1937 in Vernon, Texas to G.C. "Squig" and Mary Lois Glover (nee Dickens). She grew up in Jean, Texas and attended Graham High School graduating in 1955. JoAnn was extremely talented in many areas including sewing, quilting, crocheting, cross-stitching, and crafting. She greatly enjoyed singing, playing the piano, and the organ. JoAnn lived in Killeen, Texas from 1963 to 2023 before moving to Copperas Cove, Texas in May 2023 to live at the Stoney...

Robert Blake "R.B." Choate, 91, died peacefully on December 7, 2023 surrounded by family and loved ones in Abilene, TX. He was born February 24, 1932 to Emelia Margaret (Krienke) and Raymond Earl Choate in Abilene, where he lived his entire life. On September 28, 1973, R.B. married his beloved wife, Wanda "Joyce" McCaffety, and together they owned and operated Choate Plumbing Company. They enjoyed square dancing, traveling, and creating a warm welcoming gathering place for family and friends. R.B. was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Joyce (2009), his brother Tommie Choate, and two sisters Nellie Wills and Frances Bolen. R.B. is survived by his brother Rufus Choate (Arlington,...