Clyde Warren "Sonny" Bowles

Clyde “Sonny” Warren Bowles, age 85, of Archer City, Texas, passed away Tuesday, December 16, 2025, in Wichita Falls, Texas surrounded by his loving family.

Clyde or better known as “Sonny,” was born November 18, 1940, in Nocona, Texas, to the late Homer and Lucille Skinner Bowles. He attended school at Prairie Valley High School in Nocona, Texas and at the age of 18 began serving his country in the Army National Guard in Fort Polk, Louisiana and later at Ft Knox, Kentucky.

In 1962, he married the love of his life, Mary Lee Graves, in Nocona, Texas and together they shared four children: Lacretia, Mark, Patricia, and Melissa.

Although there were several jobs and pathways, one that he loved was working as an auctioneer alongside his lifelong friend and mentor, Wilford White with Wilford White’s Auction Services and at Halliburton Oilfield Services in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

He was an only child and enjoyed his extended family of the many aunts, uncles and cousins of the Skinner and Bowles families that were in and around Nocona, Texas. He would tell stories of picking cotton as a young boy with his Skinner family in the fields of North Texas with all of those aunts and uncles. He loved to brag on his Grandma Minnie Skinner that she would keep everyone productive and leave the field early to go and prepare lunch for everyone. He loved his childhood and especially loved his uncles, Bill and Raymond Skinner of Bowie, Texas who both preceded him in death.

Later in life, he lived next door to his mother and enjoyed gardening and produced the biggest tomatoes, as long as his cousin, Randy Bowles plowed the garden spot. He loved fishing in the tanks of Montague County, the North Field where he grew up and on the Bridwell Ranch in Wichita Falls, Texas. He also enjoyed hunting along the Texas side of the Red River and sharing the history of the Red River Valley from his perspective. His favorite pastime was watching tv and those programs included: Dallas Cowboys football, PBR, and viewing the same western movies repeatedly. Gunsmoke, The Rifleman, and Wagon Train were some of the favorites and he could recite lines and tell you the names of all the actors and what was going to happen next, as he connected with Marshall Dillon and admired Ms. Kitty. Watching western movies, visiting neighbors and keeping in touch with his family— simple pleasures that brought him peace and happiness.

He is survived by his children: Lacretia Glazner and husband, Gaspar Martinez of Yukon, Oklahoma, Mark Bowles and wife, Beth of Adrian, Texas, Patricia Vieth and husband, Greg of Windthorst, Texas, and Melissa Bussey of Wichita Falls, Texas. His grandchildren: Brayden Bowles and wife, Lindsey, Neal Glazner and wife, Sutton, Baylee Koontz and husband, Gary, Karley Buerger and husband, Scottie, Allie Calvert and husband, Craig, Taylor Field, Nick Glazner, Kensley Vieth, Karson Vieth, Julien Martinez and Aidan Martinez ; eight great-grandchildren, Emilee, Khloe, Kyla, Karolyna, Casen, Carter, Bristal, and baby Cord; and three great-great-grandchildren, Greyson, Weston, and Lyla.

Sonny was also preceded in death by one great-grandson, Kannon Bowles.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 27, 2025, in the Nocona Cemetery in Nocona, Texas. Services are under the direction of Aulds Funeral Home of Archer City.

The family wishes to thank the following for their committed service, compassion and care: Visiting Angels of Wichita Falls, United Regional Hospital, Healing Hands of Wichita Falls, Archer Service Center and Hospice of Wichita Falls. The family suggests memorials to be made on his behalf to the Archer Service Center, P.O. Box 578, Archer City, Texas 76351.