OBITUARIES
Jimmy Louis Spinks
July 8, 1944 – July 17, 2022
BOWIE – Retired Army Major Jimmy Louis Spinks, 78, passed away July 17, 2022 at Wise Health System in Decatur.
Visitation will be from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. on July 26, at Lucas & Blessing Funeral Home in Burleson. A graveside service with military honors will follow at 11 a.m. at Burleson Memorial Cemetery.
Jimmy was born July 8, 1944 in Fort Worth to Louis W. and Josephine Richardson Spinks. He grew up in Fort Worth and graduated from Polytechnic High School in 1962. After high school he joined the U.S. Army and served for 20 years in both the reserve and active-duty forces. He served in military law enforcement, field artillery, recruiting and supply management, and was the recipient of multiple decorations, medals, badges and awards. He retired in 1986, achieving the rank of Major. While serving as an Army Reservist, he also served as a Fort Worth police officer in the Crime Scene Division during the 1970s.
Upon retiring as a Major in the U.S. Army, he owned and operated Roadrunner Hobbies in Lake Worth. During the 1990s, he was an insurance adjuster for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, working natural disasters nationwide. In 2007, he became the emergency manager for the City of Bowie and served the city until 2014. Jimmy enjoyed racing cars, flying his planes as a private pilot and rescuing animals.
He was preceded in death by his father, Louis W. Spinks.
Jimmy is survived by his mother, Josephine Spinks, Burleson; sons, Todd Spinks, Weatherford and Mark Spinks, Galveston and five grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in Jimmy’s name to a local no-kill animal shelter or rescue organization.
Arrangements entrusted to Lucas & Blessing Funeral Home of Burleson.
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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