OBITUARIES
W.R. Tucker Jr.
February 12, 1948 – May 12, 2022
NOCONA – W.R. Tucker Jr., 74, died on May 12, 2022.
A visitation was at 5 p.m. on May 15 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home. A funeral service was at 2 p.m. on May 17 at the Nocona First United Methodist Church and a graveside service followed.
Tucker was born on Feb. 12, 1948, in Nocona to Raymond and Mabel Price Tucker. He was active in Future Farmers of America and played basketball in high school at Prairie Valley. On June 1, 1969, he married the love of his life, Patti, and moved to Commerce, TX where he worked for East Texas State University for a few years.
He graduated with a degree in agriculture from ETSU in 1970. He continued his education a few years later to earn his master’s in education administration at Texas Woman’s University. Tucker was an ag teacher, director of Special Education of Montague County and Prairie Valley superintendent for 21 years.
Tucker was one of the founders of Nocona Nights, which brings music entertainers from across Texas to Nocona for monthly concerts. He served on the Nocona City Council and then on the hospital board for a few years. He was a past member of the Nocona Rotary Club and Young Farmers. He was instrumental in helping build the Montague County Show barn and was involved in the 1986 Centennial Wagon Train visit to Nocona. He also was a member of the Nocona United Methodist Church.
Tucker is preceded in death by his parents; brother, David Lynn and sister, Carol Hinton.
He is survived by his wife, Patti; daughter, Cheryl, Frisco; son, Jeff, Denton; sister Barbara Kelly, Valley View; four grandchildren; and many nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces.
Donations in Tucker’s name may be made to Lucky Paws or Nocona First United Methodist Church Jeans and Shoes fund.
Arrangements entrusted to the Jerry Woods Funeral Home of Nocona.
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.
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.
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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