OBITUARIES
Leighton Leon VanVacter
Leighton Leon VanVacter
March 25, 1926 – December 6, 2014
BOWIE – Leighton Leon VanVacter, 88, passed away Dec. 6, 2014 in Dallas, TX.
The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. Dec. 8 at The White Family Funeral Home.
Funeral service was at 2 p.m. Dec. 9 at the First Presbyterian Church in Bowie. Burial followed at Elmwood Cemetery.
Leighton was born March 25, 1926 in Jester, OK to Leon and Eugenie (Birchfield) VanVacter. He graduated from Stoneburg High School in 1943. Leighton married Bettie Prater Feb. 12, 1944 in Alvord. They were married for 70 years.
He served his country in the U.S. Navy and was stationed at Midway Island and Pearl Harbor. Leighton worked as a carpenter building houses in Bowie, Decatur and Nocona areas. He enjoyed ranching and was very active with his son and grandchildren’s 4-H and FFA projects throughout the years. Leighton will be remembered for his devoted years of life as a husband, father, and grandfather.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Leon and Eugenie VanVacter; and his son, Joe VanVacter.
Leighton is survived by his wife, Bettie VanVacter, Bowie; daughter in law, Linda VanVacter, Bowie; two grandchildren, Lee VanVacter and wife Renee, Sunset; Lisa Scruggs and husband Lance, Bowie; three great grandchildren, Ty Scruggs and Jase Scruggs both of Bowie and Patrick VanVacter. Sunset; three great- great grandchildren; sister, Margaret Reed and husband Bill, Stratford, TX; and four nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Stoneburg and Ringgold Rural Fire Departments.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
OBITUARIES
Maggie Killen
November 5, 1938 – April 18, 2026
WICHITA FALLS – Maggie Killen, 87, died on April 18, 2026.
A graveside service took place at 1 p.m. on April 27 at Salona Cemetery near Bowie.
She was born on Nov. 5, 1938 in Bowie to Bertha Irene (Brewer) and Emmett Franklin Thompson. She was a graduate of Bowie High School. She was an oil information secretary and later in life as a business office manager in a skilled nursing home.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Bertha Irene and Emmett Franklin Thompson: sisters; Gracie McNatt, Berneice Oliver, Ola Mae Deeton, Ernestine Ray and Dorothy Woolf: brothers; Kelly Thompson, John Thompson, Lonnie Thompson, Wayne Thompson and Tommy Thompson; son, Ricky Wallace and daughter, Vicki Cullens.
She is survived by two grandchildren and six great-grandchildren
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to University Park Nursing and Rehab.
OBITUARIES
Sammy Joe Mitchell
June 4, 1947 – April 19, 2026
SPAINSH FORT – Sammy Joe Mitchell, 78, died on April 19, 2026.
There was a visitation from 5-6 p.m. on April 24 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel in Nocona.
A graveside service will be at 10 a.m. on April 25 at Spanish Fort Cemetery in Spanish Fort.
He was born on June 4, 1947 in Nocona to Bonnie O. Mitchell Jr. & Mary Lou Cross Mitchell. He grew up in the Spanish Fort area and went to school at Prairie Valley Schools. He was a hard-working farmer, rancher and mechanic all of his life and served his nation in the Airforce. He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Spanish Fort. He married the love of his life Robbie Hawthorne on May 8, 1971 in Nocona.
He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Steven Chris Mitchell.
He is survived by his wife, Robbie Mitchell, Spanish Fort; children, Joe Chris Mitchell, Spanish Fort and Kasie Hamilton, Bowie; sister, Bonnie Robertson, Spanish Fort; six grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to The Montague County Youth Fair, c/o Kenton Holloway, 5549 F.M. 1758, Bowie, TX 76230.
OBITUARIES
Lesli Jan Phipps
November 8, 1958 – April 20, 2026
NOCONA – Lesli Jan Phipps, 67, died on April 20, 2026.
There was a funeral service at 2 p.m. on April 23 at Bethel Baptist Church in Nocona with Pastor David Rogers officiating. The interment followed in Hope Cemetery, Henrietta. Pallbearers were Will Johnson, Ben Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Kevin Johnson, Kaye Rhoades, Tom Skinner and Bill Holcomb.
She was born in Nocona on Nov. 8, 1958 to Gerald “Jerry” and Lucia Painter Johnson. She grew up in Nocona and graduated Nocona High School in 1977. She attended Bethel Baptist Church. She later attended college at Midwestern State University and was a member of the Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. She worked mostly in accounting for Northrop Grumman. She married Curtis Phipps on June 3 2021 in Henrietta.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
She is survived by her husband, Curtis Phipps, Nocona; children, Blake Gantz, Euless, Emily Gantz Hicks, Hoover, AL and Garrett Palla, Denton; brother, Craig Johnson; and one grandson.
Memorial donations may be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation at www.komen.org.
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