Obituaries Barbara Lois Haggard Holeman... Barbara Lois Haggard Holeman, 71 of Montague, passed away Friday, June 16, 2017 at the Wise Regional Hospital. She was born January 7, 1946 in Grapevine, TX to Mason Arnold Haggard and Wilma Marie Morris Haggard. She was married for ten years to Gerald Holeman whom she met in Childress, TX at her first job after college as an Extension Agent. Barbara served as County Extension Agent in Childress, Caldwell and Montague counties. She also taught at Hirschi High School in Wichita Falls. Barbara graduated from Denton High School in 1964 and TWU in 1968 with a Bachelors Degree in Home Economics. She later earned a Masters Degree from Midwestern University in Wichita Falls. She was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church in Nocona, TX where she taught children’s Sunday school and sang in the choir. She was active in many local organizations and most of all she loved working with her 4-H’ers and Extension Homemakers. Barbara played the accordion and piano from an early age. She was a Gold Star 4-her and youth leader and loved animals almost as much as people. Barbara fought a seven year battle with ovarian cancer with unbelievable determination. She was very much an optimist and survived adversities that would break many. One of her greatest joys of the last 8 years was dancing twice a week at Silver Strings in Bowie, TX with Cecil and friends. Her smile and love for others will be missed. Graveside services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at Little Elm Cemetery with Rev. Raymond Castro officiating. Arrangements entrusted toDeBerry Funeral Directors. Barbara is survived by her sister, Marilyn Haggard; brother, Mason Haggard II and wife Linda of Cisco; niece Amy Koerbacher and husband Chuck of Denton; nephew Ryan Haggard and wife Betsy of Cisco; great nieces and nephews, Jake Treagus, Sidney Treagus, Cadence Haggard, Gavin Koerbacher and Bradley Haggard. 14 Thursday, June 22, 2017 The Shopper Delmer Ray “Frog” Thomas... Delmer Ray “Frog” Thomas, age 78 of Waurika, OK, passed away June 15, 2017, in Waurika, OK. Frog was born on December 22, 1938, in Ringgold, TX to Harvey Nelson Thomas and Charlotte Leona Carpenter. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Nocona. He worked for Dubin Energy for 40 years. Funeral services were held on June 17, 2017, at 11:00 a.m. at Bethel Baptist Church in Nocona. Reverend Dale Berry officiated. Interment followed at Nocona Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Jerry Woods Funeral Home in Nocona. He is survived by daughters, Penny Thomas of Nocona, Linda Dean of Waurika, OK; sisters, Joyce Gordon of Wichita Falls, Erma Eldred of Nocona, Carol Keen of Nocona; brother, Edward Thomas of Bowie; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. Arturo Talamantes Lopez... Arturo Talamantes Lopez, 65 of Saint Jo, Texas, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, June 10, 2017, in Fort Worth, Texas. Arturo was born April 20, 1952, in Zaragoza, Mexico to Arturo Talamantes and Severiana Lopez. He remained in Mexico until his 30s and then settled in Texas the remainder of his time. He married Angela Saucedo on November 21, 1987, in Aubrey, Texas. A Rosary was held at 7:00 p.m. following family visitation. A burial service will be held at a later date. He is survived by his wife, Angela of Saint Jo; daughters: Norma Rodriguez of Sanger, Texas, Martha Garcia of Saint Jo, Texas, Patricia Ruiz Talamantes, of Alvord, Texas and Berenice Talamantes of Saint Jo, Texas; sons: Sergio Talamantes of Alvord, Texas, Jose Talamantes of Zaragoza, Mexico, Valentin Talamantes, Manuel Talamantes of Decatur, Texas; brother Jesus Talamantes of Banderas, Texas; and sister Guadalupe Talamantes Lopez of San Antonio, Texas; 16 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. Mariano Cordero Lopez... Mariano Cordero Lopez, of Montague, passed away June 15, 2017 in Nocona at the age of 62. Mariano was born January 17, 1955 to Norberto Gonzalez Cordero and Modesta Cordero Lopez in El Refugio C.D. Fernandez San Luis Potosi, Mexico. On January 31, 1976, he married Antonia Picena Veyra, and they had two sons. Mariano Cordero was a beloved husband, father, brother, and son. He was a hardworking, loyal, and devoted family man who put his wonderful wife Antonia and his sons Eduardo and Mariano, Jr. before all else. Mass of Christian Burial was held on Monday, June 19th at St. William’s Catholic Church, Montague. Arrangements entrusted to Scott-Morris Funeral Home in Nocona. Mariano is survived by his wife Antonia Cordero Picena; his sons Eduardo Cordero of Bowie, and Mariano Cordero of Nocona; brothers Raul, Ruben, Juaquin, all of Corpus Christi, and Telberto, as well as sister Yolanda and husband Francisco Robles, of El Refugio C.D. Fernandez San Luis Potosi, Mexico. Pamela Jean Timberlake... Pamela Jean Timberlake, 62, of Terral, Oklahoma, passed from this life Sunday, June 11, 2017 in Bowie, Texas. Pamela Jean Carroll was born November 5, 1954 in Wilson, Oklahoma, to Shirley (Romine) and Bobby Gene Carroll. She worked for Haggar Slacks Inc, and Nocona Boot Company for many years. Once Haggar and Nocona Boot Co. closed. Pam furthered her education and graduated from Midwestern State University with a Bachelor's degree in Education and Master's Degree in Computer Science. She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Terral and she enjoyed reading and spending time with family. Funeral services were held on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Terral. Burial followed in the Terral Cemetery under the direction of Dudley Funeral Home in Waurika. She is survived by her daughter, Shanon DeMoss; two grandchildren; one great grandchild; siblings, Paula Tallon, Joanie Carroll, Kim Larison, and Steven Lynn Carroll. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews. Jerry Norman Shelton... Jerry Norman Shelton, 83, of Waurika, OK., passed away on June 14, 2017. He was born July 20, 1935. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 17, 2017, at the First United Methodist Church in Waurika. Burial followed in the Ryan Cemetery. Chancey Elmer “Junior” Dunn, Jr.... Chancey Elmer Dunn Jr., known to many simply as Junior, formerly of Saint Jo passed away peacefully on Saturday, June 10, 2017 at the Beehive Homes of Lewisville at the age of 78. Born August 17, 1938 to Chancey Elmer and Mary (Wilson) Dunn in Montague County, Chancey was raised in Forestburg and Saint Jo. As the youngest of ten children, he had fond memories of being raised on the family farm with his seven sisters and two brothers. After graduating high school, Chancey earned a Master’s degree in Industrial Arts from the University of North Texas. He married Joan Smith on December 23, 1966 and was a loving and devoted husband for fifty years. Chancey spent most of his career working for H-E-B ISD, first as a teacher and then as the Director of Maintenance. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m., on Friday, June 16, 2017 at First United Methodist Church in Saint Jo. Burial followed in Dye Mound Cemetery outside of Saint Jo. All services are under the direction of Scott Funeral Home in Saint Jo. Chancey is survived by daughter, Kari of Argyle; stepson, Stacy Dunn of Mansfield; three grandsons; sisters: Jo Whaley of North Richland Hills, Nell Polson of Fort Worth, and Peggy Gregory of Flower Mound. Michelle Sue Crabtree... Michelle Sue Crabtree, 45, passed away Monday, June 12, 2017 in Bowie, TX. Michelle was born March 25,1972 in Paulding, OH to Roger and Rowena (Foust) Aldrich. She graduated from Paulding High School in Ohio. Michelle enjoyed playing softball, doing crafts, and building wood crafts. She was very active in the Bible Baptist Church of Bowie and was a member of the Bowie Young Homemakers. Burial will be at Mount Zion Cemetery in Oakwood, Ohio. Arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie. Michelle is survived by her husband, Chuck Crabtree of Bowie; parents, Roger and Rowena Aldrich of Bowie; children, Nickie Rhoades of Xenia, OH; Josh Crabtree of Columbus, OH; Cheryl May of Grove City, OH; Tiffany Kelly of London, OH; Cody Fitch of Paulding, OH; Kylee Aldrich of Van Wert, OH; ten grandchildren; sister, Robin Fuller of Freemont, IN; brothers, Scott Aldrich of Bowie; Brian Aldrich of Bowie; and numerous nieces and nephews. F U N E R A L WHITE FAMILY H O M E Coy & Jennifer White Respectful - Dignified Service Reverently Rendered (940) 872-9993 1418 Highway 59 North Bowie, Texas 76230 A good year for Texas watermelons In spite of many usual and pesky problems associated with growing those big, beautiful Texas "thumpers," most reports have it that a good watermelon crop is headed our way this year. Logan Hawkes 3 | Jun 15, 2017 When naming Texas' leading vegetable crops, it's easy to get confused. Texas is noted for its cabbage, spinach, potatoes, onions, tomatoes, chile peppers, cantaloupe, strawberries and blackberries. While not all of the above are technically vegetables, an old rule in the Lone State State says if it grows in Texas soil and often is served up on the table, then it must be a vegetable. Related: Lack of winter chill temps a concern for fruit growers But when it comes to specialty crop production in Texas, it's true. No one would argue that cotton and corn and other grains of many types win the award for being the largest and most valued crops in the state – hands down. But watermelons follow as another of the most successful crops grown in Texas. But Texans, like many folk across the nation, like their vegetables fresh and locally grown. So it's fair to ask, "What is the most favored Texas vegetable crop," and what vegetable crop is the most successful in the state?” Dr. Larry Stein, fruit, nut and vegetable specialist at Uvalde's Texas A&M AgriLife Research & Extension Center, says the answer is easy—watermelons. And June and July, he says, is watermelon time in Texas. GOOD CROP COMING In spite of many usual and pesky problems associated with growing those big, beautiful Texas "thumpers," most reports have it that a good watermelon crop is headed our way this year. "Watermelons have been one of the better crops we have around the Lower Rio Grande Valley," said Stein. "Other crops have had to deal with black rot and other disease issues, but watermelons have done well as the weather turned drier." Texas favorite melon is grown in just about every corner of the state. While the Lower Rio Grande Valley gets the nod for growing the most commercial melon crops, watermelons can be found on farms and in gardens in just about every part of the state. The Annual Watermelon Thump, the largest festival in the state dedicated to watermelons is celebrating its 64th year June 22-25 this year in Luling. Known for some of the sweetest melons grown in Texas, the Luling Watermelon Thump attracts huge crowds that participate in the Watermelon Thump car rally, seed-spitting competition, and a Watermelon Queen pageant the last weekend every June. The celebration has been going since 1953. WATERMELON CAPITAL OF TEXAS? But Diley, Texas, also makes the claim as being the "unofficial" self-proclaimed watermelon capital of Texas. Both communities sport statues (of sorts) of watermelons. But while the statue in Diley is made of concrete and located at the city park, it is smaller than most Texas watermelons. In Luling, however, the local water tower is shaped and painted like a watermelon. Watermelons are also grown in large numbers in parts of East Texas and as far west as the Texas-New Mexico border, and just about all point between. And while the state's watermelon crop in recent years has been challenged by imports coming across the border from Mexico, melon growers in Texas will tell you their prime crop is still in great demand among "real" watermelon lovers. Melvin Rutherford, of Hawkins (near Longview), grows melons on about 14 acres of irrigated farm land. He says late June is when roadside peddlers and melon aficionados from as far away as Louisiana make the annual pilgrimage to his farm to buy truckloads of his vine-ripe melons. He says the art of marketing his melons depends on his growing schedule. SUMMER FAVORITE "Watermelons are a summer favorite in Texas," he reports, and the Fourth of July weekend is the biggest melon crunch of all. He says if he can have melons ready-for-sale by July 4th, he is going to have a good marketing year. But all summer—June-Aug.—is the prime watermelon time, and when Texas melons become ripe. Cold weather and predator creatures like crows, coyotes, gophers and squirrels can be problematic as can diseases, especially in wet seasons. The real secret to watermelons, Rutherford says, is dry and hot weather, and generally a Texas summer offers plenty of that to go around. Texas is the top producer of watermelons in the nation, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Agriculture Statistics Service, and represents the No. 1 vegetable crop in Texas according to Stein. The statewide watermelon crop in 2016 was worth more than $75 million, according to AgriLife Extension annual reports. That's down from $100 million a couple of years back. But the good news is that watermelons seem to be on everyone's grocery list, according to early reports this year, so it could be a good year for growing, and eating the big green giants. PICKING THE PERFECT MELON For the consumer, knowing how to pick the perfectly ripe, juicy melon is essential to finding the best for taste. That's where the term "thump" comes in. It comes down to when the watermelon was picked. In other words, watermelons don't continue to ripen after being harvested, like many other fruits, so it's no good to just buy one and let it ripen on the counter. Look at the melon's belly. Watermelons do have an underside, or belly, known as the field spot, which is in contact with the ground throughout its growth. This spot on a ripe watermelon will usually be yellowish, not white, which indicates an unripe melon. Next comes the thump test. Using your knuckles, rap on the middle of the watermelon while holding it up to your ear, if possible. A ripe watermelon will have a hollow sound when knocked, which sounds more like a plunk than a thwack. An unripe watermelon will have more of a higher pitched sound, while an overripe one will make a thud or a lower-pitched sound. Next, sniff it. Believe it or not, a truly ripe melon has a light smell to it. A ripe watermelon should smell slightly sweet, and similar to what a melon tastes like. Now, squeeze it gently. The rind of the melon shouldn't be soft, as the skin of some fruits get when ripe, but it also shouldn't be hard as a rock, with no give to it at all. Finally, when you narrow down the melon to two or three you think are the best, generally speaking, the heavier the melon, the better it will be.