OBITUARIES
JoAnn McConnell
August 3, 1950 – January 1, 2023
SUNSET – JoAnn McConnell, 72, went to be with our Lord at 1:45 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2023 at Hospice of Wichita Falls.
The family received friends from 6 – 8 p.m. on Jan. 5 at Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur. A funeral service was at 2 p.m. on Jan. 6 at the Old Country Church in Bowie with Doyle Wade as the officiant. Burial followed at Sunset Cemetery. Pallbearers included Dustin McConnell, Cory McConnell, Guy Green, Mike Jackson, Jacobi Sidlauskas and Don Sidlauskas.
JoAnn was born to Ralph Harvey and Annie Belle (Suson) Workman on Aug. 3, 1950 in Bowie. She was united in marriage to Wayne McConnell on Sept. 20, 2003 in Bowie. JoAnn was a longtime resident of Sunset and spent many years working for the Bowie Independent School District, Karl Klement Ford and TXI Crusher. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend to many who will dearly miss her.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Ralph and Annie Workman; niece, Karen Phillips and great-niece, Ashley Lee.
Those left to cherish her memory are her husband, Wayne McConnell; daughter, Sheila Sidlauskas and husband Don, Iowa Park; grandchildren, Jennifer and Jacobi Sidlauskas, Iowa Park; sister, Ruby Jewell Phillips and husband Edward, Decatur; brother, Ralph “Buttons” Workman and wife Linda, Rhome; nieces, Cathy Phillips and Chassidy and Tierney Workman; nephew, Wesley Workman; great nieces and nephews, Tyler, Taylor and Shannon “Pinky” Lee and Nicholas, Alex and Zoe Wigington; great-great nieces and nephews, extended family members and a host of friends.
Arrangements entrusted to Hawkins Funeral Home in Decatur.
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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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