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Loretta C. Whitecotton...
     Loretta C. Whitecotton, 85, passed away on Friday, September 3, 2004 in Bowie, TX.
     Mrs. Whitecotton was born February 28, 1919 in Old Forge, PA to Joseph and Bertha (Pettinato) Menichello. She graduated Old Forge High School and entered Saint Mary’s Mesercordia Hospital as a nursing student and worked at Saint Claire’s Hospital in New York City. She married W.W. Whitecotton in Murray, KY in 1945. They moved to Bowie in 1959 and purchased Morrow’s Coffee Shop, famous for it’s fried chicken. They owned and operated the coffee shop for 31 years until their retirement in 1990. She was a faithful member of Saint Patrick’s Episcopal Church where she served on the Altar Guild for many years. She was an active patron and volunteer of the Bowie Public Library. She was selected as friend of the year in 1998. He life was a testimony of faith, loving kindness and perseverance.
Eucharist of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, September 8, at Saint Patrick's Episcopal Church with The Reverend Phillip Swickard, celebrant. Arrangements are under the direction of White Family Funeral Home.
     Committal Service will follow at 2:00 p.m. in the Dallas/Fort Worth National Cemetery.
She is survived by her husband, Weldon “Babe” Whitecotton, Bowie, TX; three daughters, Sharon Dollar and her husband, John, Birmingham, AL, Laura Stine and Paula Redman, both of Bowie, TX; three grandchildren, Mike McGinnis and wife, Ginger, Birmingham, AL, John McGinnish and wife, Elizabeth, China and Meghan Stine, Bowie, TX; two great-grandchildren, Sarah Grace and Ethan Gabriel McGinnis; one sister, May Manch, New Hartford, NY; and several nieces and nephews.

Melba Lucille Johnson...
     Melba Lucille Johnson, age 89, of Phoenix, AZ passed away September 3, 2004 in Phoenix, AZ.
     Mrs. Johnson was born June 21, 1915 in Tishomingo, OK to James and Fannie Williams Creswell. She married Alvin Johnson on July 14, 1983 in Saint Jo, TX. She worked for General Dynamics and was a member of the Campbell Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX.
     Graveside services were held Tuesday, September 7, 2004 with Rev. Jack McBride officiating. Interment was at the Spanish Fort Cemetery under the direction of Jerry Woods Funeral Home.
Surviving relatives include: two daughters, Carole Apple and husband Richard Pledger, Edgewood, NM and Bettye Wilson and husband, Roy, Phoeniz, AZ; two sons, David Johnson, Arlington, TX and Robert Johnson and wife, Debbie, Phoenix, AZ; four grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.

William “PaPa” Fahring...
     William “PaPa” Fahring, 80, of Ranger, TX, passes away on Wednesday, September 1, 2004 in Eastland, TX.
     He was born October 5, 1923 in Gypsum, KS to Thomas Earl and Caroline (Karber) Fahring. He married Edna Jane Howie on September 14, 1942 in Gypsum, KS. He worked in New London, TX as an oilfied pumper until his retirement in 1973. He volunteered by mowing the little league fields in Ranger and enjoyed supporting children’s sports. Mr. Fahring had lived in Ranger since 1976 and was of the Baptist faith.
     Funeral services were Saturday, September 4, 2004 at 10:00 a.m. at Edwards Funeral Chapel.
Interment was at 3:00 p.m. in Elmwood Cemetery in Bowie, under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home and assisted by White’s Family Funeral Home.
     Survivors include: his daughters, Neva Warren and husband Joe of Bowie, TX; Wilma Cantwell and husband, Willie of Ranger; grandchildren, Bobby Warren of Decatur, TX, Ginger Cantwell-Polster of Arlington, TX and Todd Cantwell of Glen Rose, TX; seven great grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Edna Fahring; one son, Billy Fahring and two brothers and one sister.

Mary Siekkinen...
     Mary Siekkinen, age 82, of Bowie, TX passed away August 31, 2004 in the Bellmire Healthcare Facility in Bowie, TX.
      Mrs. Siekkinen was born December 12, 1921 in Ashtabula, OH. She married Milton F. Siekkinen on October 5, 1941 and was a Supervisor of school for blind and deaf.
     Funeral Services for Mrs. Siekkinen were held Tuesday, September 7, 2004 at 1:00 p.m. at the Pederson Funeral Home Chapel in Rockford, MI with Rev. Kenneth Peebles officiating. Place of interment was at Chapel Hill Cemetery in Grand Rapids, MI. Local Arrangements under the direction of Fry Funeral Home in Bowie, TX.
     Surviving relatives include: four sons, Kenneth Siekkinen and wife Patricia, Jefferson, OH, James Siekkinen and wife Nancy, Ashtabula, OH, Thomas Siekkinen and wife Holly, Ashtabula, OH and Robert Siekkinen and wife Janis, Bowie, TX; four daughters, Sue Eades and husband Leo, Sparta, MI, Patricia Sandella, Akron, OH, Janet Martin and husband Don, Cedar Creek, TX and Karen Brown and husband Steve, Austin, TX; twenty-two grandchildren; several great grandchildren; two brothers, Pastor Lynn Scovil, Oshkosh, WI, and John Scovil, Ft. Worth, TX; and one sister, Elizabeth Nordquest, Ashtabula, OH. She was preceded in death by her husband, Milton F. Siekkinen.

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