OBITUARIES
Kenneth “Wassie” Joe Reynolds
January 2, 1931 – January 17, 2023
FORESTBURG – Kenneth “Wassie” Joe Reynolds, 92, passed from this earth peacefully on Jan. 17, 2023 at home surrounded by his family.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Jan. 23 at the White Family Funeral Home in Bowie. A funeral service will take place at 10 a.m. on Jan. 24 at the Forestburg United Methodist Church with Pastor Greg Parr officiating. Burial will follow at Perryman Cemetery in Forestburg.
Wassie was born on Jan. 2, 1931 in Forestburg to Jimmie Joe (J.J.) Reynolds and Cleta Vesta (Boyd) Reynolds.
Wassie was a Korean War veteran who served in the Air Force until 1987, serving at Carswell and Shepherd Air Force bases as a flight mechanic. He also participated in rodeos where he was a bull rider when he was young, and a rodeo announcer for many years. He was involved in Old West Gunfighters of Forestburg, and also was an extra for several movies. Wassie was a biology and driving education teacher, as well as a school board member for Forestburg Independent School District for many years. Throughout all of his careers and hobbies, music was his one love that never faded. He began playing guitar and singing more than 75 years ago and continued to do so until the last few weeks.
Wassie lived his life for his family, his country, announcing rodeos and playing music.
Wassie is survived by his wife of almost 70 years, Rosemary B. Reynolds; daughter, MaryJo Eldridge, Denton; sons, Jerry and wife Debby, Ronald and wife Karen and Wesley and wife Daniela Reynolds, all of Forestburg; 10 grandchildren, Jonathan and wife Tiffany, Argyle, Christany and husband Chris Kottwitz, Aledo, Kenny, Forestburg, Shane, Forestburg, Justin, Krum, Samantha and husband Garrett Dangelmayr, Muenster, Michael and wife Kara, Frisco, Michelle Wright, Liberty Hill, Amanda and husband Gary Haack Denton and Joe and wife Amber, Forestburg; 14 great-grandchildren and many cousins.
Arrangements entrusted to the White Family Funeral Home of Bowie.
Paid publication
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.
-
NEWS2 years agoSuspect indicted, jailed in Tia Hutson murder
-
NEWS3 years ago2 hurt, 1 jailed after shooting incident north of Nocona
-
NEWS3 years agoSO investigating possible murder/suicide
-
NEWS3 years agoWreck takes the life of BHS teen, 16
-
NEWS3 years agoMurder unsolved – 1 year later Tia Hutson’s family angry, frustrated with no arrest
-
Show us something good9 years agoCountry music star children perform in Bowie
-
NEWS3 years ago
Sheriff’s office called out to infant’s death
-
100th Birthday4 years agoLooking back at the 1958 Centennial edition of The Bowie News