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Rita June “Nanny” White Heard

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September 1, 1931 – June 9, 2021
BOWIE – Rita June “Nanny” White Heard, 89, Bowie, TX, went home to be with the Lord on June 9, 2021 in Denton, TX.
The funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. on June 12 at the First United Methodist Church in Bowie, with the Rev. Steve Martinez officiating. The burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Stoneburg.
June was born Sept. 1, 1931 in the home of Winnie and Ike Parks in Bowie. She attended Bowie school where she fell in love with Gordon “Pop” Heard during elementary school, even though he threw rocks at her. June was the vice president of her senior class, Future Farmers of America sweetheart, co-editor of the Maroon and White, majorette for one year and drum major of the award-winning Bowie Band for three years, member of the annual committee, director of the Bowie Band Show and majorette at Texas Christian University.
June and Gordon were married on Aug. 28, 1949 at the First Baptist Church in Bowie. After attending TCU, June joined Gordon in Lubbock where they attended Texas Tech University. Following Gordon’s graduation, they returned to Bowie in 1951 where Gordon joined his father to own and operate Heard’s Hardware Furniture and Appliance. June was the store’s buyer for all furniture and giftware and always regaled her family with stories of her annual trips with her daughter and daughters-in-law to the Dallas Gift Market.
June and Gordon were later joined by their son, David, in managing the daily operations of the family business. June could also be found behind the cash register, in the gift-wrapping department, assisting with the bookkeeping and greeting customers with her infectious smile until they retired and closed the store on Sept. 8, 2003.
June and Gordon also owned and operated the 5 Bar Ranch, albeit she was no cowgirl. However, she hosted many holidays at the ranch including many picnics, Easter egg hunts, and infamous barbecues.
She was a member of the First United Methodist Church where she served on almost every committee in the church including trustees, daycare board, Methodist Women, president of the Women’s Society, choir member and also served as a Sunday School teacher.
She was a past president of the Bowie parent-teacher association, band parents association, member of tennis moms, Boy Scouts troop volunteer, a charter member of the Bowie Amity Club, member of the Maids and Matrons Club of Bowie, a longtime volunteer for Meals on Wheels, served on the board of the Bowie Memorial Library as well as the Bowie Hospital Auxiliary. June also thoroughly enjoyed meeting with her dear friends each month for Bridge Club. June and Gordon also were honored as the Grand Marshals of the Bowie Christmas Parade.
She and her husband Gordon were charter members of the Bowie Educational Foundation. They proudly promoted and encouraged the continued success and education of Bowie High School graduates. They raised three of their own Jackrabbits together: Bob Heard, David Heard and Julie Heard Wallace. A large part of her life was spent as a proud supporter of the Bowie Jackrabbits.
She never missed any little league, basketball, volleyball, football, baseball, band contests, twirling competitions and tennis tournaments cheering on her children and grandchildren. She was always at the front row of every send-off waving her Jackrabbit flag. Not only was she an avid supporter of her Bowie Jackrabbits, but embodied the spirit of the motto, “Jackrabbits Forever.” At the last count, her home displayed over 823 of Jackrabbits.
After retirement, June and Gordon enjoyed adventuring across the United States in their RV and traveling the world. They also spent many summers with their children and grandchildren hiking around their beloved Estes Park, CO in the Rocky Mountain National Park. It was an annual tradition that continued for many years. In fact, her to be 90th birthday celebration was already planned in Estes this coming fall.
Nanny was famous for her artistry in birthday and holiday cards for family, which always included a $2 bill with a paper jackrabbit. She beautifully created needlepoint Christmas stocking heirlooms for her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
She was an amazing artist – she loved to paint with oils, watercolors and sketched, with many of her works reflecting the Rocky Mountains and aspen trees that were so dear to her heart.
June also was an excellent cook. Nanny and Pop’s home was the gathering place for all holiday events. She delighted in having her children and grandchildren assist in the preparation of these holiday extravaganzas.
In addition, for many years they hosted their dear BHS alums with an annual Christmas party as well as an Old Fools’ Spring Golf tournament. In her later years, she delighted sitting on the lake house patio counting waves on Amon Carter Lake drinking her sundowner with a twist of lemon. She never failed to miss an episode of Wheel of Fortune, cheering on her beloved Dallas Cowboys, singing Fight Raiders Fight for her Texas Tech Red Raiders, and playing for hours with her great-grandson Beckett.
Nanny was the true testament of a God-fearing Christian, loving wife, devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Gordon Emin Heard; grandfather, Emin Charles Heard; grandmother, Una Heard; grandfather, Hardy Elijah Overstreet; grandmother, Martha Carolyn McNeil White; father, Robert Toombs White; mother, Lena Mae Overstreet White and brother, Robert Lynn White.
Survivors include her sons, Robert Willis Heard and wife, Mindy, Las Colinas; David Gordon Heard and wife, Sharron, Bowie; daughter, Julie Wallace and husband, Ward, Bowie; sister, Linda and husband, Bob Fitzner, Bowie; sister-in-law, Gail White, Bowie; grandchildren, Jonathan Heard, Paige Delgado and husband, Mike, Somer McCormick and husband, Cameron, Amber Garrett, Tara Jackson and husband, Ben, Blake Wallace and wife, Tiffany, Shelbi Wood and husband, Nathan and Madison Wallace; great-granddaughters, Jacie Garrett, Avery Garrett, Bella McCormick and Mackenzie Delgado; great-grandsons, Callan McCormick, Bennett Jackson, Rylan Delgado, Beckett Ward Wood and Banks Everett Wallace; great-great-grandson, Oaklynd Delgado and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
If friends desire, memorials can be made to Bowie Educational Foundation PO Box 992 Bowie, TX 76230 or First United Methodist Church Memorial Fund 1515 Jefferson St. Bowie, TX 76230.
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OBITUARIES

Amanda Ellisa Horton

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August 7, 1992 – March 20, 2024
NOCONA – Amanda Ellisa Horton, 31, died March 20, 2024 in Wichita Falls, TX.
A visitation was from 2 – 4 p.m. on March 23 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel in Nocona. A funeral service was at 2 p.m. on March 24 at The Veranda Inn officiated by Karen McCord. Interment followed in Nocona Cemetery.
She was born to David Wade and Brandy Horton on Aug. 7, 1992 in Gainesville.
She is preceded in death by her grandfather.
She is survived by her parents, Brandy Horton, Nocona and David Wade, Moore, OK; her grandmother; children, Devon Killen and Brielle Hernandez, both of Nocona and sister, Cally Wade, Denton.
Memorial donations may be made to strayevol.org/donate or Lucky Paws Animal Shelter, 653 Airport Rd., Nocona, TX 76255.
Arrangements entrusted to Jerry Woods Funeral Home of Nocona.

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OBITUARIES

Sherman Clay Edwards

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December 12, 1951 – March 13, 2024
BOWIE – Sherman Clay Edwards, 72, died March 13, 2024.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on March 20, at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A funeral service will take place at 11 a.m. on March 21 at the White Family Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Briar Creek Cemetery in Bowie.
He was born Dec. 12, 1951, in Shamrock, TX to Cecil and Mary Edwards. A 1970 graduate of Boswell High School in Saginaw, he also served in the United States Air Force.
He married Marilyn Apala on May 30, 1980 and they were together close to 44 years. He dedicated his working years to the family-owned E&S floor company in Saginaw, alongside his parents and brother. In his retirement he was a bus driver for Bowie Independent School District.
He is preceded in death by his son, Jaime Edwards; parents, Cecil Edwards and Mary Edwards and his brother, William Edwards.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Edwards; sons, Casey Edwards and Cody Edwards; daughter, Kimberly Wagner; his brother and sister-in-law; eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren as well as numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.

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OBITUARIES

Nelda Virginia Howard

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August 28, 1949 – March 14, 2024
NOCONA – Nelda Virginia Howard, 74, died March 14, 2024.
Visitation was from 5 -7 p.m. on March 17 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel in Nocona. A funeral service was at 2 p.m. on March 18 at Valley View Baptist Church in Spanish Fort, officiated by Pastor Cameron Whitley. Interment followed at Liberty Chapel Cemetery in Montague County.
She was born Aug. 28, 1949 in Hondo, TX to Bill and Bernice Brown, and lived in Devine, TX for the duration of her childhood. She graduated from Devine High School in 1967. Pursuing career opportunities, she moved to San Antonio, where in 1969 she met Steven Thad Howard, and the two married on April 14, 1970. They then moved to Fort Leonard Wood, MO and in early 1972, they returned to Spanish Fort.
While living in Spanish Fort, she was an active Valley View Baptist Church leader and Sunday school teacher. She also was president of the Prairie Valley 4-H and a Texas Foster Care and Adoptive Services certified foster parent. She returned to Devine from 1990-1992, where she received treatment for and overcame stage four ovarian cancer. After returning from Devine in 1992, her family has since called Nocona home.
She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Bill Brown, Mike Brown, Roy Brown, Dusty Brown and Bob Brown.
She is survived by her husband, Steve Howard, Nocona; children, Heath Howard, Krum, Heather Porter, Elk City, OK, Hank Howard, Nocona and Hannah Whitley, Humble, TX; 13 grandchildren; one great-grandchild and siblings, Milton Brown, Karen Kohlleppel, Dana Palmquist, Mark Brown and Gaye Matthews.
Memorial donations may be made to Valley View Baptist Church, 6159 Hwy 103, Nocona, TX 76255.
Arrangements entrusted to Jerry Woods Funeral Home of Nocona.

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