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OBITUARIES

James ‘Jim’ F. Gafken

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January 4, 1936 – April 2, 2022
FORESTBURG – James ‘Jim’ F. Gafken, 86, died on April 2, 2022 at the Renaissance Care Center in Gainesville.
A celebration of life luncheon was on May 21, at the Lazy Heart Grill in Saint Jo.
Gafken was born at the Union Mission in Charleston, WV on Jan. 4, 1936 and was adopted by Chuck and Helen Gafken. He attended Marietta College in Marietta, OH on a football scholarship and graduated in 1957 with a bachelor of science degree with a major in petroleum engineering. While at Marietta, he married his high school sweetheart, Sandra Proffitt.
After college, Gafken went to work for Magnolia Petroleum for 42 years. He became a world class expert on oil and gas production and was in charge of start-ups in Indonesia and offshore platforms in the United Kingdom, Norway and the Netherlands.
In 1983, Gafken married Virginia Lathrop and they moved to Argyle. He began buying land in Montague County when he came home from overseas assignments. He retired in 1996 and in 1997 began cattle ranching full time.
Gafken is survived by his wife, Virginia; two daughters, Becky Bachman and Kimberly Douglass; nine grandchildren; sister, Mary Jane Blustein, Lynnwood, WA; one niece and one aunt.
Memorial dontaions may be made to the Museum of the Stonewall Saloon, 100 N. Main Street, Saint Jo, TX 76265.
Arrangements entrusted to Scott Funeral Home in Saint Jo.

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OBITUARIES

Maggie Killen

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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.

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OBITUARIES

Sammy Joe Mitchell

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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.

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OBITUARIES

Lesli Jan Phipps

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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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