OBITUARIES
Arthur James Jacob Ambrose Bayer
Arthur James Jacob Ambrose Bayer
December 7, 1929 – October 30, 2016
MUENSTER – Arthur James Jacon Ambrose Bayer, 86, died Oct. 30, 2016 in Muenster, TX.
A rosary and vigil was at 5 p.m. Nov. 2 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
A mass of Christian burial was at 10 a.m. Nov. 3 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father Ken Robinson officiating. Burial followed in Sacred Heart Cemetery. All services were under the care of Scott Funeral Home in Muenster.
Bayer was born Dec. 7, 1929 in Muenster to Joseph and Gertrude (Walterscheid) Bayer. After graduating from Sacred Heart School in 1947, he was drafted into the service where he was a paratrooper in the 187th Airborne Regimental Combat Team in the Korean Conflict. Upon returning to Muenster, he bought a small herd of cattle and began working in concrete, bricklaying and farming.
On Sept. 27, 1955 he married Frances Elizabeth Knabe in the Sacred Heart Catholic Church.
Bayer served as an Eucharistic Minister. He was a member of the finance committee and building committee for the Sacred Heart Church. Bayer was a charter member of the Jaycees. He was a lifetime member of the VFW #6205 and served as Commander from 1963-1964. He was the sergeant of arms for the squad for military funerals for 50 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Gertrude (Walterscheid) Bayer; grandson, John Rogers; brother and sister-in-law, Alfred and Anna Marie Bayer and brother, Robert Bayer.
He is survived by his wife, Frances Elizabeth (Knabe) Bayer, Muenster; daughters, Janet Barnhill, Muenster and Julia Simpson, Sherman; sons, Keith Bayer, Pennsylvania and Nathan Bayer, of Valley View; 13 grandchildren; eight great grandchildren; sister, Ethel Mae Hesse, of Muenster; and one sister-in-law.
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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