Obituaries Ricky Don Gunter, 57, passed away Friday, August 23, 2013, in a heartbreaking car accident. Rick was born July 29, 1956 to Don and Elsie (Goodrum) Gunter in Vernon, Texas. His life was lived with passion and love for all he knew and all he did. He served as a firefighter in Euless and Arlington for more than 25 years before retiring. He lived in and loved Bowie, TX for 27 years. After retiring, he began building beautiful homes, enjoyed owning Stix and Stones Nursery, and took great pride in raising cows on his family’s land. Services were at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, August 27, 2013, at the Montague County Cowboy Church in Montague, Texas with Joe Caballero officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to The Kidney Foundation (kidney.org) or the Rider Relief Fund (riderrelief.com). Arrangements are entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie. Rick was preceded in death by his dad, Don Gunter Rick is survived by his beloved sons, Zachary Gunter, Brandon Byers and wife Renee, and Brett Byers; precious mother, Elsie Gunter; big-hearted sister and brother in law, Leanne and Cody Lambert; precious granddaughter, Brenlee Byers; nephew and wife, Riley and Lindsey Lambert and son, Daxton; hand picked second sister, Genny Hale; best friend forever, “Dakota”; and many aunts, uncles, and friends. “You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” 20 Thursday, August 29, 2013 The Shopper Ricky Don Gunter... M.E. (Gene) Parker... M.E. (Gene) Parker, age 86, passed to his heavenly home Wednesday, August 21, 2013. Gene was born October 13, 1926 at Illinois Bend to Homer C. and Eula E. Farquhar Parker. He served in the U.S. Navy aboard the U.S.S. President Jackson during WWII. He married Pauline Davenport, on October 5, 1946. He was a farmer, rancher, butcher, oil field worker, and county hand for Montague County for several years before he served as County Commissioner for twelve years. He was a Sunday School teacher and deacon at First Baptist Church for many years. He was a member of Saint Jo Chamber of Commerce and Lions Club. Services were held Friday, August 23rd at the First Baptist Church in Saint Jo, with Rev. Tim Williams and Rev. Jeff Roe officiating. Burial followed at Illinois Bend Cemetery under the direction of McCoy Funeral Home. Gene is survived by his wife, Pauline; sons, Ronny of Illinois Bend and Cris of Picayune, Mississippi; daughters, Lana of Olney and Dana of Saint Jo; and several grandchildren, greatgrandchildren, nieces and nephews. Daniel Lee Simmons, 63, of Nocona, Texas passed away Saturday, August 24, 2013 in Nocona, Texas. Daniel was born on January 28, 1950 in Azle, Texas to Issac Lee Roy Simmons and Nancy Bob Wickliffe. He married Mary Kay Hancock on Sept. 13, 2002 in Gainesville, Texas. Daniel helped start up many companies in his life, such as the Diamond Jean Company in Nocona. Funeral Services are scheduled for Thursday, August 29, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the Nocona Cemetery in Nocona, Texas. and will be officiated by Rev. Les Ryan. Burial will follow at the Nocona Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to Jerry Woods Family Funeral Home of Nocona, Texas. Daniel is survived by his wife, Mary Kay Hancock Simmons of Nocona, Texas; three sons, John Hancock of Nocona, Texas; Joe Paul Hancock of Perryton, Texas; Jimbo Hancock of Nocona, Texas; two daughters, Rachel Mathison of River Oaks, Texas and Sarah Simmons of North Richland Hills, Texas; and one sister, Sharon Holloway of Hazle, Texas. Billie Ray Pyatt, 83, passed away Monday, August 26, 2013, in Bowie, Texas. Bill was born August 8, 1930 to Charley and Bonnie (Gore) Pyatt in Three Sands, Oklahoma. He married Jean Loutzenhiser on July 6, 1950 in Geneseo, Kansas. Bill served his country in the United States Army and fought during the Korean War. He was a paint and body man prior to going to work for Cities Service, and was also a machinist for Occidental Petroleum until his retirement. Funeral service will be held 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 30, 2013, in the Drawing Room of the White Family Funeral Home with Michael Whitworth officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 til’ 8:00 p.m. Thursday, August 29, 2013, at the White Family Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie, Texas. Arrangements are entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie. He is preceded in death by his parents, Charley and Bonnie Pyatt; wife, Jean Pyatt; son, Russell Pyatt; and five brothers. Bill is survived by his daughter in law, Lynn Pyatt of Woodward, OK; five children, Leslie Pyatt of Euless, Sharon Rainwater and husband, Gary of Bowie, Carolyn Hopkins and husband, Milton of Sunset, Velva and Melva Pyatt of Bowie; fourteen grandchildren; Rusty, Lyndsey, Kelly, Rachel, Titian, Daniel, Rebekah, Stacey, Phillip, Nicole, Emily, Eric, Whitney, and Ginger; eighteen great grandchildren; sister, Corrine Sweeden and husband, Darrell of Fort Worth; two brothers, Ted Pyatt of Lyons, KS and David Pyatt of Fort Worth; and numerous nieces and nephews. Billie Ray Pyatt... Ronnie Brooks, 70, went to be with the Lord on Friday, August 23, 2013, in Bowie, Texas with numerous loving family members and friends around him. Ronnie was born May 14, 1943 in Ryan, Oklahoma, but lived in Bowie, Texas (mother was visiting family.) He married Paula Allen on January 8, 1960, and graduated from Bowie High School in 1961. Ronnie was a member and deacon at the First Baptist Church in Bowie. When Ronnie turned 21 years old, he applied to Game Warden School and graduated on June 25, 1965. Ronnie moved to Matador, Texas for his first duty station in Floyd and Motely counties. On August 26, 1966, he transferred to Decatur, Texas where he worked for Wise County until 1981. After 1981, Ronnie transferred to Throckmorton, Texas, and in 1966 he transferred to Bowie, Texas where he retired as a Game Warden on August 30, 2003. Funeral services were at 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 26, 2013, at the First Baptist Church of Bowie, Texas with Mike Henson officiating. Burial followed at Sunset Cemetery in Sunset, Texas. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Rathgaber Hospitality House at 1615 12th Street Wichita Falls, Texas 76301 or the First Baptist Church Building Fund in Bowie, Texas. Arrangements were entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie. He is preceded in death by his parents, Glen and Nora Brooks. Ronnie is survived by his wife, Paula Brooks of Bowie; three children, Ted Brooks and wife, Sandra of Bedford, Trina Brooks of Bowie, and Lance Brooks of Cary, NC; five grandchildren; two great grandchildren; sister, Glenda Davis and husband, Phil. Ronnie Brooks... Cora Lee Henley... Cora Lee Henley, 97, of Nocona, Texas passed away Sunday, Aug. 25, 2013 in Nocona, Texas. Cora was born July 19, 1916 in Capps Corner, Texas to William B. and Bettie Grimes. She married Travis Henley on Nov. 11, 1934. Cora was a member of the Church of Christ. she was a volunteer at the Nursing home, and she had worked at the Carpenter Shop. Graveside services were on Wednesday, August 28th, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. at the Nocona Cemetery in Nocona. Cora is survived by her daughter, Carolyn McGee of Nocona; son, Roger Henley of Capps Corner, Texas; 6 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; 16 great-great grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Donald Wayne Brooks... Jean Jones... Jean Jones, 80, passed away Thursday, August 22, 2013, in Bowie, Texas. Jean was born April 9, 1933 to Alvey and Louisa (Kinchloe) Slater in Pederral, New Mexico. She married James Jones on March 17, 1950 in Estancia, New Mexico, and was a housekeeper for many years. Jean enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. Graveside service was held on Friday, August 23, 2013, at Montague Cemetery in Montague, Texas with Doyle Wade officiating. Arrangements are entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie. Jean is survived by her four children, Richard Jones of Gainesville, James Jones of Bowie, Chad Jones of Bowie, and Juanita Mathis of Dallas; two brothers; three sisters; and a host of grandchildren, nieces, and nephews. Daniel Lee Simmons... Donald Wayne Brooks, 78, passed away Saturday, August 24, 2013, in Grapevine, Texas. Don was born March 19, 1935 to Clifton and Tilda (Veretto) Brooks in Ryan, Oklahoma. He graduated from Bowie High School in 1953 and moved to Dallas, Texas where he worked on a ranch. A year later, he went to work for Mobile Oil, which provided him with many opportunities. In 1967, Don made his way back to his hometown and bought B & B Butane Gas Company in Bowie, Texas. He sold the business in 1996, but continued to operate the company until his retirement in 2005. Don was a charter member of Jim Bowie Saddle Club and Jim Bowie Reds Relay Team. He was an avid horseman and enjoyed raising race horses. Graveside service will be held 11:30 a.m. Thursday, August 29, 2013, at Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie, Texas. Arrangements are entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie. He is preceded in death by his parents, Clifton and Tilda Brooks; grandson, Matthew Hollis Reynolds; two brothers, Duwayne and Herald Brooks; and niece, Glenda Brooks. Don is survived by his daughter, Courtney Brooks Reynolds and husband, Marc of Grapevine; grandson, Whitney Brooks Reynolds of Corinth; granddaughter, Meagan Reynolds-Raftie of Bedford; three great grandchildren, MaKenzi Brooks Reynolds, Mealeah Marie and Elijah Jamar Raftie; and three nieces and one nephew. F U N E R A L WHITE FAMILY H O M E Shaw’s Funeral Home Respect, Relieve, Remember 301 E. Tarrant Street, Bowie •940-872-1144 Owners: Gregg Shaw, Mike Shaw, Shelly Richey Director Newt Williams Office Manager Brittany Williams Coy & Jennifer White Obituaries published in The Shopper are archived on our website: www.theshopperonline.biz Coy RespectfulFuneralWhite Service - Dignified Director Reverently Rendered (940) 1418 Highway 59 North 872-9993 Bowie, Texas 76230 Phone (940) 872-9993 Fax (940) 872-5949 Bowie, Texas 76230 1418 Highway 59 North Buffalo Springs Chatter by Carmen Wood Greetings to Buffalo Springs and readers of Buffalo Springs Chatter! Are you enjoying this not so hot summer? I like it! Welcome back, Bodee Eudy! So glad you are feeling better; you were looking pretty good when I saw you on Sunday. And, according to facebook, you had a big breakfast on Sunday also. A good appetite is a good sign of progress. (at least for you!) It may not work too well for some of us. But, it’s so good to see you catching up on your vittles. I hear he was at Montague Cowboy Church too. Yee haw! I don’t have a lot this week, except that I’m loving my “new-to-me” van. I filled up today and found that I’m getting 30.2 miles per gallon of gas. Awesome! The area schools began Monday, so please pray for the students and teachers. Pray for their safety. We never know what they may encounter. I graduated from Duncan High School in 1963, and read just last week about the shooting in Duncan of a young man visiting from Australia. The boys who shot him, said they were “bored”. I would have put them to work if they had asked. I have some good hard labor that had their name written all over it. Unfortunately, they never asked, so they took it out on an innocent young man that had his whole life ahead of him. So horrible and so, so sad. At least they will be tried as adults. I’m so glad I didn’t have to worry about things like this when I was going to school eons ago. Then the young men who beat and killed a veteran of World War II. I guess they were bored too. Heaven help us all! We all better get on our knees and pray HARD for this country. Saw Preach & Stanley Rater breezing around on his golf cart Sunday evening. He just got out of the hospital from having hip surgery. I think he was glad to be home because I saw a grin on his face. Welcome home to you too Preach. I hope this takes care of all of your pain that has been plaguing you for the last several years. Let me know when you’re ready to go bunji jumping. Ok? It was nice having Gus Turk at church Sunday. Come back soon. Louise Maxwell was gone to Oklahoma to see Jason be licensed as a preacher. Alan Walraven played piano in her absence, Sheryle Walraven played her fiddle, and I played the organ and sang the special. Billy Waller brought another good message, and Stanley Rater led our music. It was nice to be home at Pleasant Mound. Please pray for our government, our military boys and girls, our diplomats, students and teachers, Tiny/ Gene Skelton, disaster victims, Joe Powell, Raymond Poirer, Mary Musgrove, Melinda Love, W. Edwards family, Charlotte Kinsey, Marsha Reeder, Alice Brooks, Ken Jones, RAIN, Brad Fudge, McGees, Raters, Jim/Pat Mathena, Jennifer Scott, Gail Campbell, David Potter, Patsy Berg, Stan Maxwell, Betty & Chris McGee, Bodee Eudy, Brad Rogers, Tom Miller, unspoken requests, the unsaved, and Chris Harris (my son – hypoglycemia). Happy Birthday to Betty Flinn on Wednesday, and Christi Stephenson also, on Wednesday 28th. Hope you both have a very Happy Birthday, and many, many more!! Scottish pastor Horatius Bonar wrote the hymn “Not What These Hands Have Done” based on the Bible verse, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us….” (Titus 3:5) Until next week, drive safe, and put your cell phone down while you drive! Write, text, or call me your news, please. Adellewest@aol. com or 940-613-4652.