OBITUARIES

Leon Jones

Published

4 years ago

01/04/2022

July 14, 1930 – December 28, 2021
DEER PARK, TX – Leon Jones of Deer Park, TX passed away on Dec. 28, 2021.
A funeral service was conducted by Pastor Jacob Perry of Trinity United Methodist Church at 11 a.m. on Jan. 3, 2022 at Newport Cemetery in Newport, TX.
He was born on July 14, 1930, in Weslaco, Hidalgo Co., Texas. He was the son of George V. and Annis I. (Rose) Jones of Dewey County, OK. He attended school and lived in Dewey County until his enlistment into the U.S. Army on March 21, 1947. He underwent basic training at Ft. Lewis, Washington, and served with the 25th MP and Recon Company, 25th Infantry Division, in Osaka and Shinodayama, Japan, and was discharged Jan. 31, 1950, at Ft. Hood.
Leon and Dorothy Gossett, daughter of Frank and Ida Gossett of Newport and Bowie, TX, were married Dec. 9, 1950 in Borger, Hutchinson County, TX. They had one son, Gary Stephen, who was born Nov. 20, 1951.
Leon moved with his family to Houston, in November, 1953. In 1957, they built their home in Deer Park, where they lived until he moved to Fort Worth in 2012. He met Dorothy while working for Southwestern Bell Telephone Company in Borger, TX. He spent 14 years working with Phillips Chemical Company in Borger and Pasadena, TX, before attending the University of Houston. Leon retired from Schlumberger Well Services in 1985 after 20 years of service.
Leon and Dorothy were landowners in Montague County and one of his great joys in life was overseeing the family property as a wildlife management area and hunting lease. Leon was a passionate genealogist and enjoyed traveling across the country in his RV researching he and Dorothy’s family histories.
He authored two books: Our Jones’-Coast to Coast and Somewhere Along The Way, and edited Dorothy’s book Elijah Gossett – Texas Pioneer. Leon improved and maintained the directory for the Newport Cemetery for many years. He loved traditional Japanese music, storytelling, Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla ice cream, whittling, and a cool breeze on the screen porch at his cabin.
Leon was proceeded in death by his wife, Dorothy Jones of Deer Park; brothers, Robert E., Raleigh, NC., Alvin M. of Fritch, TX., Paul W. of New Mexico, and sister, Valda Davis of Fritch, TX.
He is survived by his son Gary Stephen and his wife Donna Kaye of Fort Worth; grandson Ryan Daniel and his wife Jennifer C. of San Antonio, TX and their children Ava Elise and William Crew, and grandson Brandon Wayne and his wife Emilee Marie of New Braunfels, TX., and their son Houston Wayne.

OBITUARIES

Maggie Killen

Published

2 days ago

04/30/2026

bowienews

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

Published

2 days ago

04/30/2026

bowienews

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

Published

2 days ago

04/30/2026

bowienews

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.