OBITUARIES
Otis “Doyle” Thompson
December 1941 – January 10, 2024
MONTAGUE – Otis “Doyle” Thompson, 82, passed at home, surrounded by loved ones on Jan. 10, 2024, after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
Doyle did not wish to have a memorial service.
Doyle was born in 1941 to Louis and Dorothy Thompson in West Texas, graduating from Ballinger High School. While there, Doyle enjoyed working on cars. He often laughed when telling heart-warming stories of these days, racing cars and the pranks he and his friends would play on each other.
Doyle married his true love, Mary Jo Lee in 1961. After completing his time in the Army, they moved to Arlington. Doyle worked as an airline mechanic and crew chief at American Airlines for 36 years. Aviation was one of Doyle’s biggest passions, and he enjoyed flying his Cessna all over the U.S. Being a hard-worker and supportive provider, he was also a master-plumber “on the side.”
Together, Doyle and Mary built their little “get-away” cabin on their peaceful 46-acre retreat in Montague County. Upon retirement, they moved to Montague permanently. Doyle valued his time on his tractor, improving their land.
Doyle was known as “the Rock” of the family. He was a loving, caring, kind, Christian man, and exceptional role model. He was a humble man of integrity, doing what he said he would do, and doing what was right. Doyle was always ready for the next fun adventure for the kids. He was filled with humorous stories. He was described as “To know Doyle, was to love Doyle.” Doyle treasured time spent with his family, and dedicated much of his time to his church family at Montague County Cowboy Church.
He is preceded in death by his parents, and his brothers Eugene and Dwain Thompson.
Doyle is survived by his beautiful, spunky wife of 62 years, Mary Jo; two children, Brent Thompson and spouse Debra, Longview, and Tracie Hammer and spouse Greg, Montague; five grandkids, Caden Hammer, Taylor Vargas, Stevie Cain, Michael Peebles and Brittany Gill; siblings, Nedra Middleton and Garry Thompson; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, brother/sisters-in-law, great grandkids, and other family members.
A special “thank you” to cousin Janeye for her caring home-health expertise, and to the many family and friends who reached out with love.
In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made to the Montague County Cowboy Church, Easy Street Animal Shelter, St Jo, TX or Rocky Road Refuge, Muenster, TX.
Paid publication
OBITUARIES
Imogene Dalton Evans
November 28,1928 – June 9, 2026
DENTON – Imogene Dalton Evans, 97, passed away on June 9, 2026.
A visitation will begin at 1 p.m. on June 20 at DeBerry Funeral Home and at 2 p.m. the funeral service will follow. A grave side service will immediately follow at Roselawn Memorial Park 3801 Roselawn Dr., Denton.
Imogene Dalton Evans was born on Nov. 28, 1928 in Coleman County Texas to Samuel and Effie Clara Dalton. She was raised on the family farm and ranch near Gouldbusk attending local schools and graduating high school from Mozelle High School.
Growing up she worked in the fields and with the cattle and sheep alongside her brothers. She gained a great work ethic that stayed with her throughout her life. She felt blessed to have three careers. She worked with her husband Joe Evans in their plumbing, heating and air conditioning business. After it was sold because of Joe’s health, she returned to college to finish her education, receiving a BS degree from North Texas State University (now UNT) and a master’s degree from Texas Woman’s University. She began work as a county extension agent in Montague County, retiring in 1991. She moved back to Denton and began a career in real estate in 1993.
Family was extremely important to her. After working all day she would work at night canning and freezing food from the family’s garden. One of her sayings she will be remembered for is a quote “waste not, want not.”
She was proceeded in death by her husband, Joe B. Evans in 1991; daughter, Regina Pitt in 2011; son, Joe B. Evans Jr. in 2015; daughter, Sharon Griffith in 2023; parents and three brothers.
She is survived by her grandsons, Scott Griffith, Fort Worth, Chad (Milly) Griffith, Dallas and “Trey” (Julie) Joe B. Evans III, Bowie; granddaughters, Lindsay (Kyle) Coker, Dallas, Shannon (James) Mares, Krum, and Lydia Evans, Bowie; great-grandchildren, Case Janopoulos, Krum, Emarie Evans, Bowie, Harper and Ellis Griffith, Dallas, Jack Griffith, Fort Worth, Berkleigh and Reagan Mares, Krum, and Collins and Myer Coker, Dallas; sister, Anna Walker, Saginaw; and nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrust to DeBerry Funeral Home, Denton.
Paid publication
OBITUARIES
Mark Dean Hancock
June 21, 1958 – June 10, 2026
NOCONA – Mark Dean Hancock, 67, died on June 10, 2026.
A memorial service will be from 2-4 p.m. on June 28 at the Turquoise Owl in Nocona.
He and his twin, Mike, were born on June 21, 1958, in Gainesville to Harvey F. Hancock and Jean (Hancock) Shears. He graduated from Nocona High School in 1976. He also attended North Texas University. He had several careers in his lifetime—the Boys’ State School in Gainesville, Tucker Rocky Distributing and numerous oilfield companies.
He is preceded in death by his parents; a half-sister and grandparents.
He is survived by two sons, Ben Hancock and Sam Hancock; brothers, Harvey Hancock and Mike Hancock; sisters, Kathy Tomlinson and Patty Crabtree; two grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews; and great-nieces and nephews.
Arrangements entrusted to Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.
OBITUARIES
Minnie Allen Walker
January 20, 1938 – June 12, 2026
BOWIE – Minnie Allen Walker, 88 years, 4 months, and 23 days old died June 12, 2026.
There was a visitation from 5-6 p.m. on June 14 at Jerry Woods Funeral Home Chapel.
A funeral service took place at 2 p.m. at Bethel Baptist Church on June 15. Interment followed in Ringgold Cemetery.
She was born Jan. 20, 1938, to Clarence and Eunice Allen in Ardmore, OK on what had once been reservation land. She was the only one of nine children to be born in a hospital. She graduated from Prairie Valley High School, where she played basketball and volleyball.
In 1959, she married her soulmate, Jerry Walker, and they built their extended family over the next 56 years. She worked for Dude’s Duds briefly, and at the Ford dealership in Nocona for many years. She served as Nocona City secretary and then as Nocona City manager, retiring in 2005 after a total of 23 years. The Walkers lost Jerry in 2018, and she moved to Independence Hall in Bowie a few years ago.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Jerry Walker; parents; and siblings, Alice Harper, Sam, Doie and David Allen.
She is survived by her three daughters, Karen Walker, Linda Wickersham and Kathy Sayers; three step-daughters; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; sisters, Joan Tettleton and Barbara Ice; and many nieces and nephews.
She had a lifelong love of flowers, so flowers to remember her are welcome or donate to the Carpenter Shop, 400 Boston St., Nocona, TX 76255.
Arrangements entrusted to Jerry Woods Funeral Home, Nocona.
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