OBITUARIES
Thomas Vernon DeFrates Sr.
February 22, 1934 – February 8, 2022
BOWIE – Thomas Vernon DeFrates Sr., 87, died on Feb. 8, 2022 in Bowie, TX.
A private graveside memorial service will take place at 10 a.m. on Feb. 19 at Sweetwater Cemetery near Decatur.
DeFrates was born on Feb. 22, 1934 in Morgan County, IL to the late Edward and Edith (Meyers) DeFrates. He entered into the United States Navy upon graduation of high school in June of 1951, and spent more than 20 years proudly serving this country. He retired with the rank of Senior Chief Petty Officer.
DeFrates married Doris “Jean” Burk on Dec. 19, 1975 and were together for more than 31 years before Doris’s passing on Feb. 1, 2006. They spent 12 years on a farm in Gelena, MO until 1986, when they moved to Bowie. He was very passionate about the Veterans of Foreign Wars group of which he was past commander and politics.
He is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Jean DeFrates; son, Rick Wright; brothers, Elmer Lee Defrates, Harry DeFrates.
He is survived by his children, Tom Wright, Wise Coounty, Tim Wright, Oisoll, Scott Wright, Livingston, Marty DeFrates, Manchester, IL, Deb Treece, Waverly, IL, Tom DeFrates Jr., Woodson, IL, Mike Collins and Guy Collin, Hurst; sister, Becky Allen, Colorado Springs, CO and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie
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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