Funeral Information


Death is an inevitable part of life. Yet, we feel that it is important to be able to give our last respects to those we have lost and to be able to reach out in compassion to those who have lost loved ones. So, this page helps us to share funeral information about people in our church and community to be able to do these things.

Click here to share information about loved ones who have died.

Look below for news about funerals. . .

Willie Randal Passed Away on July 18, 2010

WillieRandalWillie Rose Randal, 88, of Wichita Falls, Texas, died Sunday, July 18, 2010, in Wichita Falls, Texas. Mother of Karen Badgwell, she often attended church and Sunday school here at FUMC.

Graveside services will be held at 9:30am, Thursday, July 22, 2010, in Masonic Cemetery, Seymour, with Rev. Sammie Ellis officiating. Services are under the direction of Archer Funeral Home, Seymour, Texas.

Willie Rose Randal was born April 25, 1922, in Valley View, Texas, to William and Jessie Overall Rose. She resided in Valley View through high school. She attended business school and worked in Dallas until her marriage to Charles Morriss Randal, Jr. on March 7, 1942. The couple moved to Seymour after he left the Army Air Corp in 1947. She had been a resident of Seymour until moving to Rolling Meadows and the Gables in Wichita Falls for the latter part of her life. She was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Seymour. Willie Rose was a mother, wife and homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Morriss Randal in 1997; and a son, Charles Morriss Randal, III.

Survivors include four children, Karen Badgwell and husband, Don, and Rose Partridge and husband, Dick, all of Wichita Falls, Charlie Randal and wife, Chrysanne, and Robin Smajstrla, and husband, Richard, all of Seymour; five grandchildren, Randal and Carlyn Badgwell of Wylie, Brian and Wendy Badgwell of Little Rock, Arkansas, Richard and Kathie Partridge of Wichita Falls, Charlie and Amanda Partridge of Denver, Colorado, and Staci Smajstrla of Wichita Falls; and eight great-grandchildren.

The family will be at Archer Funeral Home from 5 until 6 p.m. Wednesday for visitation.

The family suggests memorials to Hospice of Wichita Falls, P.O. Box 4804, Wichita Falls, Texas, 76308.

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Posted on July 21st, 2010 by tsims

Susan Campbell Passed Away on June 23, 2010

Susan CampbellSusan Holland Campbell, 53, entered the next stage of life on June 23, 2010, in Bowie, Texas. A former member of FUMC, she has more recently been a member of FUMC Bowie but has served as a Lay Delegate to the North Texas Annual Conference for many years.

She was born April 15, 1957, in Beaumont, Texas, to Dr. Jefferson Holland Campbell and Shelia Ann Trapp Campbell. She graduated in 1975 from Wichita Falls High School. She earned a BA in history from Midwestern State University in 1978. She was named Outstanding Sophomore, Junior, and Senior Woman and was Lady Midwestern her senior year. She was a student academic advisor, was elected to the honor societies Sigma Tau Delta, Alpha Chi, Cap and Gown, and Phi Alpha Theta, and was a Floyd Ewing Fellowship recipient. She was president of the Midwestern Chapter of the Chi Omega Sorority and maintained her Chi Omega friendships throughout her life, serving as a mentor to younger sorority members. She pursued graduate studies in historic preservation at Middle Tennessee State University before beginning her career in downtown and community development in Americus, Georgia, in 1981.

Susan returned to her home state to work in the Texas Main Street Program. She was the second Main Street Director hired and served in McKinney before joining the Texas Main Street Program’s state office in Austin. Afterward, she worked at Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. from 1988 to 1998 in several positions, including vice president and marketing communications director.

Susan met a soul-mate with the same last name, and she married James E. Campbell in 1992. In 1998, the couple moved to Bowie, where Susan became Main Street manager and economic development coordinator. Susan was very active as both employee and volunteer, serving on numerous boards and volunteering in many causes. Some volunteer projects involved her talents for singing and performing, such as being in an “Andrews Sisters” trio for Iwo Jima Survivors Reunions, playing Sister Robert Anne in “Nunsense,” and “starring” as Marlene Dietrich at a USO-style fundraiser. She was named MSU Outstanding Alumna, Division of Humanities, in 1994. She received Bowie’s Citizen of the Year Award for 2001.

Susan was a member of First United Methodist Church of Bowie, where she sang in the choir and volunteered countless hours in youth ministry, including organizing mission trips and performing local mission work. She participated regularly in Walk to Emmaus.

In 2007, Susan received The Texas Historical Commission’s Anice B. Read Award of Excellence in Community Heritage Development for her exemplary work in downtown revitalization, preservation planning and heritage tourism. She was a longtime member of the Texas Downtown Association, was TDA president in 2009, and will receive TDA’s 2010 Downtowner of the Year Award posthumously. She served on the board of Workforce Solutions North Texas for several years and was Vice President of the NCTC Montague County Foundation Board.

Susan viewed her life and work as a ministry to others, and many benefited from her caring, mentoring, friendship, and leadership. Generous with her time, her resources, and her mind and heart, she made the world a better place everywhere she went.

Susan is survived by her husband Jim Campbell of Bowie and their dog Scout; her sister, Cary Campbell; and brother, Charles Campbell of Wichita Falls; her nephew and niece, Christopher and Courtney Campbell of Minneapolis; her aunt and uncle, Betty Gail and Bill Chapman of Houston; and many beloved cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents and grandparents.

Memorials can be made to:

  • Campbell Scholarship Fund
    North Central Texas Community College
    c/o Dean Emily Klement
    P.O. Box 1247
    Bowie, TX  76230;
  • City of Bowie Auditorium Fund
    201A Walnut Street
    Bowie, TX  76230; and
  • First United Methodist Church of Bowie
    1515 Jefferson Street
    Bowie, Texas  76230.
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Posted on June 28th, 2010 by tsims

Bill Sogard Passed Away June 1, 2010

BillSogardBill Sogard, 62, of Wichita Falls, Texas entered the next stage of life on Tuesday, June 1, 2010 in Wichita Falls.

Visitation will be:

A Memorial service will be held:

  • Saturday, June 5, 2010
  • 10:00am
  • at the First United Methodist Church (where Bill attended church) with the Rev. Paul Goodrich and Rev. John Dillard officiating.
  • Arrangements are under the direction of Lunn’s Colonial Funeral Home.

Bill was born in Lubbock, Texas on April 1, 1948, to Gail L. and Nellie (Jones) Sogard.  He was a member of the US Army Reserves and had worked in the Life and Health Insurance business for 22 years.  Bill was a Certified RHU and EBS, and he was a founding member and the first president of the Texoma Association of Health Underwriters.  Bill was a loving father, son, and brother and was very active in his son’s baseball activities.  He also enjoyed umpiring and playing golf.

Bill is survived by his parents, Gail and Nellie Jo Sogard of Wichita Falls, Texas; a son Clayton Sogard of Wichita Falls, Texas; and two sisters:  Vicki Partridge of Wichita Falls, Texas and Cheri Althaus of Richardson, Texas.  Please keep these family members in your prayers.

Memorials may be sent to the First United Methodist Church School for Little People or to the Helping Hand Fund.

Leave a note below about what Bill meant to you!

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Posted on June 2nd, 2010 by tsims

Mert Jessel Passed Away May 6, 2010

MertJesselMert Jessel, who joined FUMC on December 13, 1959, passed away on Thursday, May 6, 2010 at the age of 92. Visitation will be:

  • At Hampton Vaughan Funeral Home
  • 4:00-6:00pm

His service will be:

  • Here in our Sanctuary
  • Monday, May 10, 2010
  • 10:00am

Mert was born on February 18, 1918 in Elk Mound, Wisconsin to Lewis Henry and Ida Mae (Whitcher) Jessel. He graduated high school there in 1936 and attended college at Stout University (University of Wisconsin system) where he played football and received a B.A. in Mechanical Engineering. He later received his M.A. degree from the University of Illinois.

He went to work for Civil Service at Chanute Army Air Force Base in Rantoul, Il. in 1940. He joined the military in 1941 and was honorably discharged in 1945. While in the service, he was an instructor teaching airplane engine repair. He spent a year and a half, TDY, in New Haven, Ct. at Yale University teaching ROTC cadets airplane engine repair. After his discharge, he returned to Civil Service at Chanute until its closing when he was transferred to Sheppard Air Force Base, retiring there in 1983.
While in the service, he traveled to colleges, universities, and high schools in North Central U. S. showing how they could incorporate used Air Force material into their cirriculum. In his tenure with Civil Service, he visited Air Force bases in all but one of the lower 48 states.

While at Sheppard, he implemented the “Christmas Exodus” for airmen going home for Christmas. He was also responsible for the planes that are on display at Sheppard. He wrote the plans for the closing of Amarillo AFB and received many commendations for his work at SAFB.

Mr. Jessel was a member of First United Methodist Church, where he was a greeter for 40 years and a member of the Keystone Class. He was also a member of the Optimist Club of Wichita Falls, Phi Delta Kappa, and was a 32nd Degree Mason.

He married Ella Mae Gibson in 1942 and she preceded him in death in 1991. He married Bobbie Leath in May, 1997 and she survives him. Other survivors include his son, David Jessel and wife, Zulai of Webster, Tx.; granddaughter, Heather Jessel Carlquist and husband, Chad of Allen, Tx.; grandsons, Chad Jessel of Webster and Brock Jessel and wife, Rochelle of Rosharon, Tx.; granddaughters, Erica and Lauren of Webster and 5 great grandchildren, Dylan and Ashley Carlquist and Stone, Grant and Aiden Jessel. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews, 6 sisters-in-law and 2 brothers-in-law.

Pall bearers will be Bill Presson, Jerry Taylor, Rick Orr, Mark Hetherington, Randy Martin, John Ferguson, Al Guinn, and Kevin Key.

In lieu of usual remembrances, memorial donations may be made to FUMC of Wichita Falls Capital Fund or Keystone Class Fund, 909 Tenth St., 76301.

Leave a note below about what Mert meant to you.

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Posted on May 8th, 2010 by tsims

Dorothy Warman Passed Away

Dorothy Warman, who joined FUMC on April 20, 2007, passed away on April 16, 2010.  A graveside service will held Monday, April 19 at 11:00am at Crestview Memorial Park with Rev. John Dillard officiating under the direction of Lunns Colonial Funeral Home.

Dorothy was born February 16, 1920, in Wichita Falls to N.M. and Laura (Bell) Clifford. Dorothy grew up in Wichita Falls and graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder. She married James V. Warman in Wichita Falls. Dorothy loved to fly and held a private pilots license for many years but she had a real passion for golf. Dorothy also enjoyed traveling and kept a part time residence in Acapulco, Mexico.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and a sister Betsy Clifford. She is survived by her daughter, Sue Smith and husband Michael; and a brother, N.M. Clifford; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the

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Posted on April 16th, 2010 by tsims

Helen Hoggard Passed Away on March 12, 2010

HelenHoggardHelen C. Hoggard, 94, who joined FUMC on April 17, 1977, died on March 12 in Wichita Falls.  A memorial service will be held on Monday, March 15, at 11am in the Sanctuary of First United Methodist Church in Wichita Falls with Rev. Paul Goodrich and Rev. John Dillard officiating.

She had been married to the Rev. Dr. Earl Hoggard for 59 years before he died in 1995. They are survived by their two sons, James Martin Hoggard and his wife Lynn of Wichita Falls and Charles Clyde Hoggard and his wife Connie of Irving; two grandchildren, J. Jordan Hoggard of Denver, and Bryn Basiardanes and her husband Tim of Houston; and two great-grandsons, Nickolas and Jack Basiardanes of Houston.

Born in Dallas on April 20, 1915, to Gustave and Annie Christensen, Mrs. Hoggard graduated as valedictorian from Highland Park High School. The award also carried with it a scholarship that allowed her to go to college. She chose Southern Methodist University which was only a few blocks from her house. She graduated with honors with a double major in English and French. She was also an accomplished pianist, and her sons remember coming home from school and often hearing her playing Beethoven sonatas as they came in the house.

When she turned 55, she quit playing golf and took up tennis and the study of classical Greek because, she said, she had always wanted to read The Odyssey in the original. With a close friend of hers in Sherman, she kept up her study of Greek for more than twenty years and didn’t quit playing tennis until she was 80.

She was preceded in death by her parents; and her sister, Clara Mae Davis and her husband Samuel M. Davis, Sr.; two close cousins, Bob and Dorothy Brown; her nephew, Samuel M. Davis, Jr., and Louanne Ten Eyck.

After her father’s death when she was five, Helen’s mother began taking in boarders to keep the household afloat. For a long time, though, in the late afternoon, Helen would go outside and sit on a front porch step, waiting for her father to come back home on the street car from downtown.

The association she and her husband had with Wichita Falls was long and deep. They moved here from Robert Lee in the late 1930s when her husband was named associate pastor of First Methodist Church, then, after other pastorates, they were at Floral Heights Methodist from 1951 to 1961. They moved back later when her husband became district superintendent of the Wichita Falls district. Other pastorates were in Henrietta, Dallas, Greenville, University Park, Sherman, and Garland. More inclined to deeply personal friendships than to generic attachments, she and her friends stayed close to each other through the years. In addition to being unbreakably loyal to those she loved, she also had a barbed wit. Some said, too, that to be one of her pets meant knowing what truly good fortune means.

Memorials may be made to:

Leave a note below about what Helen meant to you.

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Posted on March 14th, 2010 by tsims

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