Category: Howe News Bulletin

Katie Mae King, age 91, peacefully passed from this life on April 12, 2021 at home surrounded by family. 

Katie was born in Hedley, Texas, on February 4, 1930 to Allie and Charlie Koeninger. She graduated Valedictorian of Oklaunion High School in 1947. She then attended North Texas State Teacher’s College in Denton, Texas, and obtained a bachelor of science degree in Home Economics. 

After graduation in 1950, she moved to Howe, Texas, where she started her 27-year teaching career. Katie taught Home Economics early in her career. She also sponsored the Pep Squad, managed the school cafeteria, and sponsored the Future Homemakers of America Club. She was influential to many students, especially young women in developing life skills. In the 1970s, Katie obtained her master of science in Elementary Education from East Texas State University. After graduation, she then taught middle school math, science, and social studies until she retired.

She met the love of her life, Joe Clyde King, at the First United Methodist Church in Howe, Texas in 1950. She later married Joe at the same church. They were married for 66 years until Joe passed in 2018. 

Katie was an active member of the Howe First United Methodist Church. She was part of the Wesley Sunday school class, Wednesday Workers, and Methodist Women, as well as the Bereavement committee.

Katie cooked delicious pecan pies using pecans raised on the family farm. She would cook pies to donate every year to the Howe United Methodist Bazaar fundraiser. They always sold quickly! 

Katie loved family gatherings. They were a highlight of her retirement years. She loved holiday cooking and especially loved playing Scrabble with her children and grandchildren. Her vocabulary as a teacher made her a formidable opponent. In her later years, she used crossword puzzles to keep her mind sharp. They were her favorite hobby. 

Katie was also involved in the Delta Kappa Gamma and Red Hat Society. 

She is survived by her three daughters Kathie and husband Bruce Allen of Whitewright, Susan King of Plano, and Lesa and husband Terry Williams of Garland. She had 3 grandchildren, Karen (Allen) Seabourn and husband Justin of Azle, Texas, Stacy (Allen) Wilson and husband Jared of Garland, Texas, and Bailey Williams of Garland, Texas, as well as 4 great grandchildren, Brandon, Zoe, and Kendyll Seabourn, and Katie Wilson.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe, and her sister, Doris Nation.

Arrangements are under the direction of Waldo Funeral Home. The register book can be signed online at www.waldofuneralhome.com/obituary/katie-king.    

The family requests in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Katie’s memory to Howe United Methodist Church or to the charity of your choice. 

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2021 at 1:00 PM at the First United Methodist Church in Howe, Texas.

Throughout life, we are inundated with people that pass through our journey.  Friends from childhood become strangers in adulthood.  The vast majority, maybe even 99 percent of people that you come in contact with during your journey on this planet are just passersby.  Then there are the 0.99 percent that you remain in close contact with.  The remaining is a 0.01 percent.  Those people are the ones in your circle that make such an impression on you that it makes you want to be around them and hug them and talk for hours on end.  Jesse Farrer, to herds of people in Southern Grayson county was in their 0.01 percent.

Farrer was born to Jesse P. and Paula Farrer in 1970 and attended Howe schools.  Approaching high school, Farrer was not the biggest, fastest, or strongest as was the motto of Howe Bulldogs Head Coach Jim Fryar at the time.  Howe had many really good athletes, although Farrer was not among the purest.  But Farrer had one other component that Fryar put above all the other features – Jesse Farrer had the heart of the fiercest lion in the jungle, a championship mentality, and the desire to do everything he could to make his team better.  The determination, dedication, and self-sacrifice created a special bond between Farrer and Fryar.  While working ferociously to get bigger, faster, and stronger, he suffered numerous knee injuries on the field which would most likely end the football careers of 99.99 percent of players in today’s era.  But Farrer was that 0.01 percent that never quit, never loafed, never stopped until the final whistle had sounded.  Before all was said and done, Jesse Farrer playing on one leg was better than anyone else that dared try to move ahead of him in the depth chart.  The Howe Bulldogs during his three years of varsity were 23-9 with two playoff appearances.  At a football banquet, Fryar gave an award to Farrer and told the audience about the obstacles that the often-injured player went through and his overwhelming desire to be on the field and be there for his teammates.  That night Fryar told the audience, “I love Jesse Farrer!”  After his speech, there was not a dry eye in the room because all had seen the special bond between a coach and his 0.01 percent player. 

On Wednesday, current Howe Bulldogs Head Coach Bill Jehling announced that he would not issue Farrer’s jersey number 75 for the 2021 season.  Matthew Bearden, who had worn 75 for the past two seasons, will switch to number 60 which was worn by his Bulldog grandfather Jimmie Wormsbaker.  Ironically, Wormsbaker’s number 60 was not issued in the 2009 season and is the only other number to have that honor. 

Farrer married Brandi Miller in 1994 and proceeded to change his allegiance from Bulldog-land to Tom Cat-land as his daughters began school at Tom Bean ISD.  He even served as president of the school board and coached his daughters Abby and Chloe’s youth league sports.

But the constant for Farrer’s life has been his undeniable faith in Jesus Christ.  While in Tom Bean, working with the youth of the community, he led many to Christ and served as a mentor to a generation of young people.  Finding that his calling in life, after a long career working for Grayson County, Farrer took a leap of faith and retired at a young age and began his ministry full-time at Community Bible Fellowship as the associate pastor.  It was there that his mission began play to out.

Just as the worst year of all-time began, on January 8, 2020, Farrer went to Parkland Hospital in Dallas to begin treatments for cancer that was found during a PET scan that day.  They also found a spot on his lungs and his bones.  But just as the Jesse Farrer that Coach Fryar knew and loved, the fighter came out in him and he told his church members not to worry that God was in control and that “It’s Gonna Be OK” which became the battle cry for Jesse’s fight through cancer.  Soon after, t-shirts were made by Community Bible Fellowship church members that were sold to raise money.  A fundraiser was held in Tom Bean that reminded one of the movie It’s a Wonderful Life where a $5 BBQ and auction raised over $40,000.

No doctor, no nurse, no disease ever met a fighter like Jesse Farrer.  But after a year of battling the disease and making great strides, he received bad news on March 3 of this year.  The cancer had been seen on his spleen and in his lymph nodes. 

“We’ve got some problems but we’re going to work through that,” said Farrer in a Facebook video posted that day.  “We’re going to Houston on Monday and we’re going to move forward.  I know the Lord’s got it no matter what.  I’ve been told I was a miracle that I should have been gone a year ago.  I see this stuff and what He does, and it doesn’t always end like I want it to.  I’d like to go back to normal. I’ve been on chemo since February 2 last year and radiation.”

During the video, an emotional Farrer admitted to being tired and then thanked the Lord for the cancer. 

“It’s hard to thank Him for it,” said Farrer.  “But it’s not because it’s brought me so much closer to Him.  And guess what, it’s brought a lot of other people closer to Him too.  So, He’s used it and what’s better than being used by the Lord, right?  If He’ll use something that I’m going to through to help somebody else or somebody get closer to Him then it’s all been worth it, amen.  This ain’t about me, this ain’t about you – this is all about Him and His glory.”

In a later video he shared on March 19, he stressed the importance of friendship in his life and said the Lord has blessed him with so many friends.  He talked about the fundraiser and that he was overwhelmed by the love and that the best part of the night was getting to see all the people although he only was able to visit with a fraction of them. 

“I feel blessed beyond all measure,” said Farrer as he closed with Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

Weak and barely able to get around, Farrer would not be denied a final moment on the field as his daughter had “Senior Night” for the Tom Bean Lady Cats.  He made it on the field for that moment and just like as a young Bulldog wearing the number 75, he left it all there.  A few hours later, he passed away.

Jesse Farrer was a friend to many and in many people’s 0.01 percent.

Jesse Lee Farrer went home to be with his Lord and Savior in the early morning hours of April 7th after battling cancer for over a year.

Jesse was born in Sherman, Texas on November 12th, 1970 to Jesse and Paula Farrer of Howe. He is survived by his wife, Brandi Miller Farrer, daughters, Abby and Chloe, all of Tom Bean. Parents, Jesse and Paula Farrer, sister, Clarissia Doty and husband Michael, all of Howe. He is survived by many nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his sister, Angela Farrer Garner and grandparents, Opal and Julian RL Hill and Jesse and Thelma Farrer.

Jesse was a proud Bulldog, graduating in 1989, from Howe High School in Howe Texas. Upon graduation, he attended Grayson County College and East Texas State University. In 1994, he married the true love of his life, Brandi Miller. They were blessed with two beautiful daughters. He was such a proud dad always coaching his daughters in their sports and in life! His love of the outdoors led him to work for Grayson County Precinct 1 as a Foreman for 20 years. In 2015, he retired from Grayson County and then began with Community Bible Fellowship Church in Howe as Associate Pastor. He cherished working with youth, counseling soon to be married couples, witnessing his faith to others, and just being around people so that he could profess his love of God.

While Jesse loved being a Bulldog in his early years, his family made the choice to reside in the community of Tom Bean. It is here where his voice could be heard announcing games, preparing athletic fields, serving his community and Tom Bean ISD as a member and President of the School Board since 2017, and so much more. He had incredible respect and love for educators and the families of the Tom Bean community.

His passion and zest for life included family, softball, people, the outdoors, and most importantly his love of sharing God’s promise. Jesse was the kind of friend that inspired others to be a better person.

Jesse was also known as the coach who taught his players values, hard work, and determination but he also had a passion for winning games. His favorite saying was, “If you ain’t first, you’re last.”

A man of honor and integrity, Jesse Farrer valued the idea of service. He served his family, people and God and had unshakable convictions that he learned from the Holy Bible.

We shall miss him but know that we will see him later. As he always said, “Love ya and see ya in a little bit.”

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Community Bible Fellowship Church, Tom Bean Youth Sports Association, or to the Jesse Farrer Memorial fund (Independent Bank).

A celebration of life will be held at 2:00 PM Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at Sherman Bible, 2515 W. Lamberth Rd. Sherman, TX. 75092. with Pastor Jeremy Moore and Ed Lantz, officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Cemetery, in Tom Bean, TX. Visitation for Jesse will be held at Community Bible Fellowship (415 S. Collins fwy. Howe) on Monday, Apri 12, from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Jesse will be lying in state from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM without family present if you are unable to attend the visitation but would like to pay your respects and sign the guest book.

Born July 28, 1941 in Dallas, Texas, to Margaret Dailey Middleton and Arthur John Middleton. Died April 2, 2021 after a valiant battle with throat cancer.

 Survived by wife Jane Ann Cooper Middleton, daughter Jamie Middleton Washington and son-in-law George Washington of Alexandra, Virginia, two granddaughters Quinn Bailey Washington and Shay Elise Washington, brothers Clark Middleton and wife Madeleine, Paul Middleton, Steve Middleton, and sister Peggy “Bunny” Middleton Guest, and nieces and nephews, sister-in-law Sue Janway and husband Billy, and Paz and Yvette Kohavi.

 Predeceased by parents, Arthur John and Margaret Middleton, in-laws Dorothy and Elwyn Cooper, and daughter Janet Middleton Kohavi.

 Mike was a retired Air Force Major, a meteorologist and former Hurricane Hunter. He then pursued a teaching career at Leonard High School, Tom Bean High School, Van Alstyne High School, and Howe High School. After retiring from teaching Mike loved to spend time substitute teaching at Howe High School, working out with his buddies at Core Fit Gym, and entertaining his granddaughters. Mike was a long-time member of and greeter at First United Methodist Church in Howe and a member of the ACT Sunday School Class.

 The family has decided to postpone a formal memorial service for Mike until later in the summer due to concerns related to the pandemic. For those wishing to honor Mike with a remembrance, the family suggests “Feed My Sheep” food pantry, First United Methodist Church in Howe, 810 N. Denny Street, Howe, TX 75459, or a charity of your choice.

 The register book can be signed online at waldofuneralhome.com.